Co  lo  nelMx.  C.  ^  Ti//sff?L   . 


paiitavv  i^ijstort 
unDer 

1637-1913 


BY  THE 

Reverend  EDMUND  BANKS  SMITH.  B.D. 

CHAPLAIN  OF  GOVERNOR'S  ISLAND 


PUBLISHED  BY  THE  AUTHOR 
1913 


COPYRIGHTED 

I9I3 

BY    THE 

REVEREND   EDMUND   BANKS    SMITH 


dedicated  with  respect 

to  the  memory  of 

Major-general  Frederick  Dent  Grant 

united  states  army 


TABLE   OF   CONTENTS 

Chapter  I.  Indian  and  Dutch  Period      ...        to  1674 

Pages  11-24, 

Chapter       II.  English  Colonial  and  Revolutionary 

Period 1674-1783 

Pages  25-58. 

Chapter      III.  Period  of  the  War  of  1812     .     .     .  1812-1815 

Pages  59-77. 

Chapter      IV.  Mexican  and  Civil  War  Period  .     .  1846-1865 

Pages  78-85. 

Chapter        V.  Garrison  Notes 1865-1913 

Pages  86-117. 

Chapter  VI.  Ferry  Transportation  in  Four  Cen- 
turies          1637-1913 

Pages  118-124. 

Chapter    VII.  The  New  York  Arsenal     .     .     .     .1831-1913 

Pages  125-128. 

Chapter  VIII.  Religious  Work  and  Influence. 

Pages  129-152. 

Chapter      IX.  Governor's  Island  Extension. 

Pages  153-156. 

Chapter  X.  Commanding  Generals,  Post  Com- 
manders, British  and  American' 

Forces  I755-I9i3 

Pages  157-169. 

Addenda — British  Regiments  on  Governor's  Is- 
land— H.  M.  60th  Foot— the 
King's  Royal  Rifle  Corps. 

Pages  171-175.  ^  :   ■ 

The  Post  Headquarters  Building. 
Pages  174-175- 

Epilogue. 

Pages  177-179. 


PREFACE 

TT  SEEMS  to  be  a  beneficent  arrangement  of  Nature  that  all 
great  harbours  are  provided  with  small  islands.  These 
serve  highly  important  purposes  as  breakwaters  or  stations  for 
various  official  uses,  and  especially  for  Army  and  Navy  pur- 
poses as  ship  yards  and  bases  for  defensive  works  and  military 
supplies. 

Thus  the  harbour  of  Rio  de  Janeiro  has  Lage  with  its  forts — 
Cobras,  Santa  Barbara  and  others;  Naples,  its  Ischia  and 
Capri;  San  Francisco  has  Angel  Island  and  Alcatraz;  St. 
Petersburg,  Basil  and  Petropski  Islands ;  Montreal,  St.  Helen's 
and  He  Ronde ;  Manila  has  Corregidor,  our  Eastern  Gibraltar ; 
and  Panama  in  the  South,  Naos,  Perico  and  Flamenco.  New 
York  Harbour  is  well  provided  with  these  friendly  aids  to  good 
National  housekeeping,  which,  beginning  with  the  lighthouse 
islands  in  the  lower  bay,  and  including  the  mighty  Richmond 
with  its  quarantine  attendants,  sweep  in  graceful  lines  through 
the  curving  East  River  to  where  it  debouches  into  the  open 
Sound.  Among  these  sentries  which  stand  on  guard  wherever 
an  open  door  invites  attack  is  one,  the  fairest  of  them  all,  the 
"Smiling  Garden  of  the  Sovereigns  of  the  Province,"  as  the  old 
Colonial  Governors  used  to  call  it,  which  in  its  long  career  has 
done  more  smiling  than  frowning,  the  subject  of  this  History, 
Governor's  Island. 

"Pagganck"  in  Indian  days,  "Nutten"  in  Colonial  Dutch  and 
"Governor's"  in  English  and  American  occupation — by  every 
name  it  has  been  fair  and  sweet,  and  it  deserves  as  well  of  the 
future  as  it  has  served  well  the  past. 


PREFACE 

May  the  day  never  come  when  it  shall  lose  its  beauty  and  its 
dignity  and  sink  to  the  level  of  mere  commercialism,  swarming 
with  restless  crowds  on  outing  bent  or  disfiguring  the  noble  ap- 
proach to  our  Metropolitan  city  by  ranks  of  cheerless  chimneys 
and  a  dismal  waste  of  warehouses ! 

Governor's  Island  has  stood  in  four  centuries  for  that  which 
is  best  in'  our  National  life.  It  has  represented  authority  and 
defense.  The  Dutch  and  English  before  us  regarded  it  as  a 
source  of  influence  and  power.  Its  nearness  to  the  Metropolis 
gives  it  convenience ;  its  isolation  bestows  dignity  and  security. 
In  addition  to  its  value  and  importance  in  time  of  peace  for  the 
preservation  of  civic  interests  and  in  war  for  defense  as  a 
centre  of  administration,  a  depot  for  supplies  and  a  receiving 
and  training  station,  a  value  may  be  mentioned  which  as  a 
principle  ranks  above  the  definite  purposes  already  men- 
tioned. Historical  continuity  and  veneration  for  persons  and 
places  of  dignity  are  not  valued  as  they  should  be  by  the 
American  of  today.  It  is  needless  to  say  how  important 
these  considerations  are  for  the  higher  development  of  our 
National  life.  The  writer  does  not  know  of  any  one  place 
in  America  where  opportunities  for  developing  these  charac- 
teristics of  a  high  National  life  cluster  as  they  do  at  Governor's 
Island. 

Here,  for  two  hundred  and  seventy-five  years,  since  Von 
Twiller  and  the  Indians  signed  their  Roman-Dutch  agreement, 
authority  has  held  the  keys;  here,  for  one  hundred  and  fifty- 
six  years,  since  the  "Royal  Americans"  mounted  guard  in 
1756,  the  tramp  of  sentries  has  never  ceased;  here,  since  1783. 
our  flag  has  welcomed  and  dismissed  the  sun  each  day  at 
reveille  and  retreat;  here,  gallant  officers  and  fair  ladies  have 
lived  and  served  and  by  their  simple  devotion  to  God  and 
country  have  taught  to  others  that  great  silent  lesson  of  patri- 

6 


PREFACE 

otism  which  is  the  alphabet  of  the  Army;  here,  have  been  re- 
ceived with  dignified  respect  the  representatives  of  the  Powers 
of  every  land,  who  have  returned  to  their  homes  with  a  better 
opinion  of  America  because  in  seeing  our  greatest  Port  they 
have  seen  also  Grovernor's  Island  with  all  it  represents.  Truly, 
this  Island  has  served  well  the  State.  As  a  picture  of  our 
Past,  as  a  living  reality  in  our  Present,  for  the  development  of 
our  Future,  it  must  be  preserved  and  endowed  with  greater 
power  and  activity. 

The  thought  is  not  mere  sentiment.  It  is  practical  patriotism. 
Our  people  need  the  object  lesson  which  this  military  Station 
in  New  York  can  furnish.  Washington  has  its  Capitol,  a  pic- 
ture in  stone  and  iron  for  the  Nation.  New  York  has  its  civic 
and  mercantile  buildings  to  inspire  municipal  pride  and  to 
encourage  financial  enterprise.  Governor's  Island  is  the  one 
point  in  our  vast  City  on  which  to  centre  a  common  patriotism. 
We  have  pride  and  enterprise  strongly  developed.  Our  pat- 
riotism which  mounts  to  the  sky  in  time  of  war  lags  sadly  be- 
low in  peace  when  it  is  most  needed.  If  this  book  has  any 
suggestion  in  its  story  of  Governor's  Island,  it  is  of  the  im- 
portance of  preserving  inviolate  this  spot  of  National  and 
Municipal  interest,  which  through  its  long  and  honoured  career 
has  touched  so  many  points  in  the  history  of  the  American 
Army  and  of  the  City  of  New  York,  and  which  today  is  a 
reminder  to  millions,  as  it  watches  o'er  the  Town,  that  the 
eternal  vigilance  of  the  Army  is  of  fullest  value  to  the  State 
when  every  citizen  is  a  patriot.     Semper  floreat. 

It  has  been  found  impossible  to  give  the  data  in  full  of  every 
organization  and  individual  stationed  here.  The  records  avail- 
able are  incomplete,  and  if  they  were  not  so  to  transcribe  them 
in  full  would  encumber  these  pages  with  a  mass  of  details  and 
not  carry  out  the  idea  of  the  writer,  which  is  to  present  a  sim- 

7 


PREFACE 


pie  picture  of  our  Island  in  four  centuries  from  a  military 
point  of  view,  with  such  touches  of  social  life  as  can  be  gathered 
from  various  sources. 


The  author  desires  to  express  his  thanks  to  a  number  of 
friends  for  aid  in  writing  this  History,  especially  to  Brigadier- 
.General  George  Andrews,  The  Adjutant-General  of  the  Army, 
and  to  Colonel  Herbert  J.  Slocum  for  valuable  assistance,  and 
to  Captain  Arthur  F.  Halpin  for  his  kindness  in  preparing  the 
illustrations. 

Governor's  Island,  New  York  Harbour.     1913. 


AUTHORITIES    CONSULTED 


(The  spelling  and  capitalization  in  original  papers,  orders  and  reports  are 

retained.)* 


Reference  is  made  in  the  following  pages  to  the  authorities 
mentioned,  with  the  acknowledgments  of  the  author : 

Manual  of  the  Corporation  of  the  City  of  New  York. 

Manual  of  the  Common  Council  of  the  City  of  New  York. 

Memorial  History  of  the  City  of  New  York  by  Gen'l  James 
Grant  Wilson. 

History  of  Trinity  Parish  in  the  City  of  New  York  by  the 
Rev'd  Morgan  Dix,  D.D.,  Rector  of  Trinity  Church. 

The  Story  of  the  Chapel  of  St.  Cornelius  the  Centurion,  Gov- 
ernor's Island,  by  Dr.  Dix. 

Historic  New  York,  Half  Moon  Series,  by  Blanche  W. 
Bellamy. 

Tompkins  Military  Papers,  by  Daniel  D.  Tompkins,  Governor 
of  New  York  1 807-1 817. 

Journal — Legislative  Council  of  the  Colony  of  New  York. 

Colonial  History  of  the  State  of  New  York.     Brodhead. 

Medical  History  of  Governor's  Island,  by  Charles  Page,  Sur- 
geon, U.S.A.,  F.  W.  Elbrey,  Asst. 

Original  General  and  Special  Garrison  Order  Book,  1814-15. 

Colden  Papers.     Lt.-Governor  Colden. 

Clinton  Papers.     Governor  Clinton. 

Adjutant  General's  Department  Compilation. 

Circular  No.  8 — Surgeon  Genl's  Office. 

*  The  profuse  use  of  capital  letters  in  the  time  of  Washington,  as  ex- 
hibited in  some  of  the  Revolutionary  Orders  quoted  in  this  History,  may 
be  defended  on  the  ground  of  good  usage  at  the  period.  Benjamin 
Franklin,  as  late  as  1789,  laments  the  new  use  coming  then  into  vogue 
of  the  non-capitalization  of  the  initial  letters  of  all  nouns. 


AUTHORITIES  CONSULTED 

MSS.   Minutes  of  Common  Council  subsequent  to   1786,  in 

Library  of  City  Hall,  New  York. 
New  York  City  in  the  War  of  181 2.     Guernsey. 
Memorial  History  of  Staten  Island.     Colonel  Ira  K.  Morris. 
Historical  and  Statistical  Record  of  the  University  of  the  State 

of  New  York.     F.  B.  Hough. 
New  York  Historical  Society  Publications. 
Lee  Papers. 
Kemble's  Journal.     Lt.-Col.  Stephen  Kemble,  Royal  American 

Regt. 
New  Amsterdam  and  its  People.     J.  PI.  Innes. 
Valentine's  Manual. 
Lamb's  History  of  New  York. 
Historical  Register  U.  S.  Army.     F.  B.  Heitman. 
Army  List — British  Forces,  1756,  &c.     (Official.) 


CHAPTER   I. 

Indian  and  Dutch  Period 

Of  the  occupation  of  Governor's  Island  by  the  Indians  Httle 
is  known  except  that  they  were  here  when  the  Dutch  arrived 
and  that  they  undoubtedly  enjoyed  its  quiet  retreats,  as  suc- 
ceeding generations  of  Dutch,  English  and  American  residents 
have  done.  That  they  were  ready  to  part  with  it  for  what  they 
deemed  a  fair  consideration  is  evident  from  the  deed  of  sale, 
as  recorded,  to  Governor  Wouter  \'an  T wilier  in  1637,  ^^'^'^ 
when  we  reflect  that  the  Indians  of  Manahatas  parted  with 
their  Island  to  JMinuit,  Governor  and  Director-General  of  New 
Netherland,  for  sixty  guilders  (twenty-four  dollars),  wc  must 
conclude  that  they  made  a  shrewd  bargain  with  Van  Twiller 
for  Governor's  Island.  The  Indian  name  for  the  Island  was 
"Pagganck,"  referring  to  the  groves  of  hickory,  oak  and 
chestnut  trees  with  which  it  was  well  covered. 

The  Dutch  rendered  this  name  by  "Nutten,"  and  it  was  so 
called  till  the  late  Dutch  and  even  the  early  English  Colonial 
period,  the  term  "Nutten,"  lingering  in  some  cases  into  the 
Revolutionary  times,  although  the  nut  trees  that  gave  it  that 
name  had  doubtless  disappeared  under  the  influence  of  the 
famous  saw  mill  of  which  mention  is  frequently  made  in  early 
times.  The  name  of  the  Island  was  officially  changed  from 
"Nutten"  to  "Governor's"  by  Act  of  Legislature,  March  29, 
1784. 

That  the  Dutch  had  really  a  right  to  hold  New  York  is 
denied  by  Dr.  Dix  in  his  History  of  Trinity  Church  (Vol.  I, 
p.  21),  in  which  he  points  out  that  "the  Dutch  had  no  right  by 
virtue  of  discovery,  for  the  River  and  the  Bay  had  been  well 
known  since  Verrazano's  voyage  in  1524.  They  had  no  rights 
by  virtue  of  Charter:  three  years  before  the  voyage  of  Hud- 
son   .    .    .    the   region  had  been   doubly   covered  by  patents 

IX 


HISTORY   OF   GOVERNORS    ISLAND 

issued  by  King  James  to  the  North  and  South  Virginia  Com- 
panies, a  royal  donation  based  on  the  claim  of  England  to  the 
North  American  Mainland  acquired  by  Jolin  Cabot  in  1497. 

The  whole  country  was  "preempted,"  as  the  Dutch  very 
well  knew,  both  by  priority  of  discovery  and  formal  occupation. 
Even  if  the  Dutch  had  possessed  a  good  title,  a  glance  at  the 
map  will  show  that  the  position  could  not  have  been  perma- 
nently maintained  between  the  English  settlements  on  the 
North  and  Virginia  on  the  South :  it  was  merely  a  question  of 
time  before  inexorable  laws  must  take  their  course." 

Woodrow  Wilson  in  his  "History  of  the  American  People" 
seems  to  hold  an  opposite  view,  regarding  the  claim  of  right  as 
a  pretext,  but  he  acknowledges  that  under  Colonel  Nicolls,  "no 
less  a  statesman  than  a  soldier,  New  Netherland  was  within  a 
year  transformed  into  New  York  under  laws  which  promised 
toleration  and  good  government  and  which  all  sensible  men 
accepted  with  satisfaction." 

The  Dutch  occupation  of  what  is  now  New  York,  neverthe- 
less, conferred  a  lasting  benefit  upon  the  community  in  the 
importation  of  sturdy  traits  of  character  which  are  appreciable 
in  some  of  its  most  distinguished  families  today.  Architec- 
tural remains  are  naturally  non-existent,  except  in  the  style  of 
some  modern  adaptations,  but  the  names  of  streets  and  locali- 
ties, such  as  Spuyten  Duyvil,  Corlaers  Hook,  Coenties  Slip, 
Dutch  and  Van  Dam  Streets,  Stuyvesant  Square  and  St. 
Mark's-in-the-Bouewrie,  where  Petrus  Stuyvesant  lies  buried, 
and  many  other  names  of  like  character,  remind  us  of  those 
days  when  the  foundations  of  our  present  greatness  were  laid. 

The  foundation  of  the  settlement  may  be  dated  from  162 1, 
when  the  States-General  of  Holland  gave  the  West  India  Com- 
pany its  Charter.  In  1623  the  "New  Netherlands,"  a  stout 
Dutch  sailing  vessel,  Cornelius  Jacobs  of  Hoorn,  Skipper,  with 
thirty  families  came  to  this  western  Land  of  Promise.  So  sea- 
worthy was  this  good  ship  that  she  continued  in  active  service 
for  more  than  thirty  years  after  this  and  brought  doubtless  a 
large  proportion  of  the  early  Dutch  settlers  to  this  land.  In 
1625  two  more  ships  sailed  from  Holland  laden  with  agricul- 


INDIAN    AND   DUTCH    PERIOD 

tiiral  implements,  seeds  for  planting,  103  head  of  cattle,  house- 
hold furniture  and  200  settlers.  Upon  arrival  in  the  harbour 
the  cattle  were  landed  on  what  is  now  Governor's  Island. 

The  West  India  Company  was  incorporated  June  3,  162 1, 
through  the  efforts  of  William  Usselinx  to  colonize  the  lands 
discovered  by  Hudson.  In  addition  to  the  expectation  of 
revenue  to  be  derived  from  the  Colony  was  the  idea  of  estab- 
lishing a  naval  base  for  Dutch  vessels  in  the  war  with  Spain. 
"In  1621,  the  year  of  its  establishment,  the  Company  obtained 
a  grant  or  patent  from  the  States  Generall  for  the  setting  and 
Planting  a  Colony  here  and  was  called  the  New  Netherlands 
and  made  one  of  its  first  settlements  near  the  mouth  of  Hud- 
son's River  upon  an  Island  called  Nutten  Island." 

From  Colonial  Documents — London. 

The  first  permanent  Colony  upon  Manhattan  Island  was 
made  by  Peter  Minuit  in  1626  and  the  first  act  of  settlement 
was  to  acquire  land  from  the  owners.  Governor  Peter  Minuit 
made  a  bargain  with  the  Indians  as  already  mentioned,  estab- 
lishing thus  early  in  what  was  to  be  the  financial  centre  of  the 
world  a  basis  of  real  estate  valuation. 

The  prudent  Van  Twiller  followed  the  precedent  set  by 
Minuit  with  careful  attention  to  comparative  values  and  so  in 
1637  our  Island  passed  forever  from  the  control  of  the  original 
Race,  the  hut  was  abandoned,  the  tent  was  folded  and 
stowed  in  tlie  canoe,  the  stealthy  tread  of  the  moccasin  gave 
place  to  the  heavy  tramp  of  the  wooden  shoe,  "Pagganck"  be- 
came "Nutten"  and  a  momentous  page  was  opened  in  tlie 
history  of  the  subject  of  this  memorial  as  tribal  existence 
yielded  to  National  life.  The  flag  of  Holland  is  the  first  to 
proclaim  a  National  occupation,  to  be  succeeded  as  time  goes 
on  by  that  of  England  and  then  by  that  of  England's  daughter, 
grown  too  big  and  free  for  Georgian  leading  strings. 

It  is  not  the  purpose  of  the  author  to  point  a  moral  to  adorn 
this  tale.  The  great  fact  stands  out  in  considering  the  story 
of  tliis  spot,  as  in  larger  issues,  that  National  life  depends  upon 
its  standard  of  just  dealings  for  continued  existence.    This  is 

13 


HISTORY    OF   GOVERNORS   ISLAND 

why  the  great  Roman  Empire  fell  and  why  little  Switzerland 
endures.  We  may  add  many  stars  to  the  canton  of  our  flag, 
but  they  must  be  kept  undimmed,  for  even  a  just  cause  needs 
strong  battalions. 

The  author  trusts  this  simple  tale  of  our  Island  will  be  of 
interest  to  many  and  that  the  record  of  the  illustrious  Past 
will  inspire  to  even  greater  successes  in  the  future.  Before 
going  on  to  review  events  under  the  flags  of  Holland,  England 
and  our  own  country,  let  us  give  a  thought  to  those  early  in- 
habitants who  had  no  flag  save  the  waving  branch  on  the  trees 
which  gave  the  name  of  Pagganck  in  the  days  before  American 
history  began. 

The  Indians  who  inhabited  Pagganck  Island  and  the  Island 
of  Manhattan  (named  from  them)  were  of  the  Manhattan 
tribe,  belonging  to  the  Wappinger  Confederacy.  Geographi- 
cally and  linguistically  they  were  intermediate  between  the 
Delawares  to  the  south  and  the  Mohegans  who  lived  in  other 
parts  of  New  York  State. 

Their  principal  village  was  Nappeckamack  (now  Yonkers). 
Their  fort  was  Nipinicksen  on  Spuyten  Duyvil  Creek.  From 
this  point  they  sailed  out  to  attack  Hudson  on  his  return  voy- 
age down  the  River  that  now  bears  his  name — a  quarter  of  a 
century  before  their  sale  of  Pagganck  (Nutten,  Governor's) 
Island  to  Wouter  Van  Twiller. 

The  illustration  (p.  i6)  is  from  a  rare  engraving,  an  "ancient 
engraving,  executed  in  Holland,"  as  its  title  sets  forth.  It 
shows  Fort  Amsterdam  erected  in  1623  but  finished  as  de- 
picted in  the  engraving  in  1635  by  Governor  Wouter  Van 
Twiller,  first  Lord  of  Governor's  Island.  This  engraving  is 
believed  to  be  the  only  portrayal  of  the  Island  under  the  Indian 
occupation  as  indicated  by  the  tents  and  huts  upon  its  shores 
and  the  fleet  of  canoes  plying  between  their  Pagganck  Island 
and  the  mainland.* 

*This  engraving  has  been  the  subject  of  considerable  discussion.  As 
it  appears  (p.  16)  Fort  Amsterdam  is  on  the  East  side  of  Manhattan 
Island,  whereas  it  should  be  upon  the  West.  J.  H.  Innes  holds  that 
the  reversal  is  due  to  the  fact  that  the  original  view  was  taken  from  the 

14 


INDIAN    AND   DUTCH    PERIOD 

The  deed  of  sale  to  Van  Twiller  extracted  from  the  ancient 
records  of  the  Manual  of  the  Corporation  of  the  City  of  New 
York  is  given  in  full,  as  befits  its  importance  in  an  historical 
account  of  this  Island  and  also  for  its  interest  as  a  document 
of  the  period. 

We  can  imagine  the  effect  upon  Cakapeteyno  and  Pehiwas, 
the  agents  of  their  tribe  in  the  sale  to  the  Governor,  of  the 
sonorous  phrases  of  the  Roman-Dutch  law  and  of  the  impres- 
sive circumstances  with  which  the  ceremony  was  doubtless 
invested.  Whether  the  pipe  of  peace  was  passed  around  or 
not  we  are  not  informed,  but  doubtless  these  original  pro- 
prietors were  well  content  with  the  "certain  parcels  of  goods" 
which  they  acknowledged  "to  their  full  and  grateful  satis- 
faction to  have  received  into  their  hands  and  power,"  and  in 
such  simple  form  of  transportation  as  the  ancient  engraving 
portrays  they  doubtless  glided  away  to  fish  in  other  waters 
and  enjoy  their  parcels  of  goods  on  other  shores. 

Colonel  Ira  K.  Morris  in  his  "Memorial  History  of  Staten 
Island"  says  that  wampum  at  this  period  was  estimated  as  fol- 
lows: "With  the  Dutch  Governors  six  beads  of  the  white  or 
four  of  the  purple  were  equal  in  value  to  one  penny.  This 
currency  was  used  by  Europeans  for  many  years  after  their 
settlement  here.  Both  the  Dutch  and  English  recognized  it  as 
currency  for  a  long  time.  In  1683  the  schoolmaster  at  Flat- 
bush  was  paid  his  salary  in  wheat  "at  wampum  value."  In 
1693  the  ferriage  for  passage  from  New  York  to  Brooklyn 
was  "eight  stuyvers  each  in  wampum." 

Colonel  Morris  points  out  the  advantage  the  Governor's 
Island  Indians  had  over  those  of  Staten  Island  in  making  a 
sale  of  their  land  to  the  Dutch  in  that  "on  the  adjoining  Island 
(Staaten  Eylandt)  the  Indians  lived  a  most  miserable  life 
from  the  time  of  the  arrival  of  the  Dutch.  War  and  blood- 
Long  Island  shore  by  means  of  a  plain  camera  obscura  and  that  the 
proper  orientation  was  not  restored  when  the  engraving  was  made  in 
Holland.  The  reader  who  desires  to  correct  the  error  has  only  to  hold 
the  picture  before  a  mirror,  when  he  will,  upon  reflection,  perceive  that 
he  has  the  proper  view. 

15 


HISTORY   OF   GOVERNOR  S    ISLAND 

shed  followed  almost  constantly.  At  times  the  whites  were 
murdered  or  driven  away.  At  others,  the  Indians  perished. 
The  Indians  gradually  decreased  in  number  and  power,  and 
their  dust  to  the  very  last  mingled  with  the  earth  where  their 
feet  had  trod.  The  last  of  the  Raritans  (or  Aquehongas)  on 
Staten  Island  passed  away  about  1826." 

It  is  a  cause  for  gratification  that  our  Island  began  its  offi- 
cial career  in  1637  by  honourable  purchase  from  its  owners. 
During  its  documentary  history  of  two  hundred  and  seventy- 
six  years  not  a  single  transaction  can  be  found  of  a  question- 
able character.*  Under  the  three  flags  of  Holland,  England 
and  America,  as  well  as  under  the  curling  smoke  of  the  wig- 
wam, honour  and  justice  have  been  the  keynote  of  its  existence 
and  the  glory  of  its  history. 

*The  alleged  diversion  of  funds  by  Lord  Cornbury  in  1702  must  be 
mentioned  as  an  unfortunate  exception  to  this  statement. 


w 


2    T) 


> 


5   S 


m    33    O 


2;    53 


M        Cl       hrt 


ORIGINAL  DEED 

OF 

GOVERNOR'S  ISLAND 

BETWEEN    THE 

DIRECTOR  AND  COUNCIL  OF  NEW  NETHERLANDS 

AND 

CAKAPETEYNO  AND  PEHIWAS 
JUNE   16,  1637 

WouTER  Van  Twiller 

DIRECTOR-GENERAL 


[from  the   manual   of  the   corporation    of   the   CITV   of   new   YORK] 


ORIGINAL   DEED 

"The  Director  and  Council  of  New  Netherlands  residing 
on  the  Island  of  Alanahatas  in  the  Fort  x^msterdam  under  the 
Government  of  their  High  and  Mighty  Lords,  the  States  Gen- 
eral of  the  United  Netherlands  and  the  privileged  West  India 
Company,  at  their  Chambers  at  Amsterdam,  by  these  presents 
do  publish  and  declare  that  on  this  day,  the  date  underwritten 
before  us,  in  their  own  person  appeared  and  presented  them- 
selves, Cakapeteyno  and  Pehiwas  as  owners  and  declared  that 
voluntarily  and  deliberately  at  the  special  charge  of  the  Rulers 
and  with  the  approbation  of  the  Community  for,  and  in  con- 
sideration of,  certain  parcels  of  goods  which  they,  the  said 
appearers,  before  the  passing  of  these  presents,  acknowledged 
to  their  full  and  grateful  satisfaction  to  have  received  into 
their  hands  and  power,  they  in  their  rightful  "ownership  have 
transported,  ceded,  given  over  and  conveyed  and  by  these 
presents  they  do  transport,  cede,  give  over  and  convey  to  tlie 
behoof  of  Wouter  Van  Twiller,  Director  General  of  New 
Netherlands,  the  Nooten  Island  (Nut  Island),  in  the  Indian 
tongue  called  Pagganck,  situate  over  against  the  Island  Mana- 
hatas  between  the  North  and  East  Rivers  of  New  Netherlands, 
and  that  with  all  the  action  right  (and)  equity  which  to  them 
the  said  appearers  in  their  said  quality  appertained,  constitut- 
ing and  substituting  the  aforesaid  Wouter  Van  Twiller  in 
their  place  and  stead  in  the  real  and  actual  possession  thereof, 
and  at  the  same  time  giving  to  the  said  Wouter  Van  Twiller 
or  to  his  successors  full  and  irrevocable  power,  authority  and 
special  license,  taiiquam  actor  ct  procurator  in  rem  snain  ac 
propriam  the  aforesaid  land  peaceably  to  possess,  inhabit, 
cultivate  and  occupy,  and  also  therewith  and  thereof  to  do, 
trade,  and  dispose  in  the  same  manner  in  which  he  might  do 
with  his  own  lands  honestly  and  lawfully  without  their  the 
granters  any  longer  any  part,  right,  action  or  authority  what- 
ever, whether  of  ownership  charge  or  jurisdiction,  having, 
reserving  or  saving  but  to  the  behoof  as  aforesaid,  now  and 
forever  from  the  same  resisting  and  denouncing,  abstaining 

19 


HISTORY  OF  governor's   ISLAND 

and  withdrawing,  promising  moreover  not  only  by  this  their 
transport  and  whatever  may  have  been  done  by  virtue  thereof 
forever  by  these  presents,  firmly,  inviolably  and  irrevocably  to 
maintain  faithful  and  execute,  but  also  the  said  Island,  against 
all  and  everyone  to  deliver  and  maintain,  free  from  all  de- 
mands, prosecutions  and  incumbrances  that  thereto  may  be 
instituted  by  anyone — all  in  good  faith,  without  fraud  and 
deceit. 

These  presents  are  confirmed  with  our  usual  signatures  and 
our  seal  thereto  suspended. 

Done  on  the  aforesaid  Island  of  Manahatas  the  sixteenth 
day  of  June,  1637. 

WAS  UNDERSIGNED 

Jacobus  Corler 
Andrius  Hudde 
Jacobus  Bontyn 
Claus  Van  Elslant." 

The  "certain  parcels  of  goods"  mentioned  in  this  document 
are  believed  to  have  been  an  axe  head  or  two,  a  string  of 
beads  and  a  few  nails. 

General  James  Grant  Wilson  in  the  year  1875  in  conver- 
sation with  her  Majesty  the  Queen  of  Holland  asked  her 
whether  she  did  not  think  sixty  guilders  a  very  small  consider- 
ation for  Manahatas  Island,  to  which  her  Majesty  promptly 
replied:  "If  the  savages  had  received  more  for  their  land 
they  would  simply  have  drunk  more  fire  water,"  which  reflec- 
tion will  reconcile  us  to  the  very  small  amount  involved  in  the 
"parcels  of  goods,"  for  which  our  fair  Island  was  signed  away. 
However,  if  the  Dutch  made  a  good  bargain  in  1637,  they  did 
not  do  so  well  in  1667  when  by  the  treaty  of  Breda  they  re- 
ceived Surinam  as  an  equivalent  for  what  is  now  New  York!* 

*  The  Articles  of  Capitulation  for  the  surrender  of  Surinam  (Dutch 
Guiana)  were  drawn  up  6th  May,  1667,  and  state  that  "Peace  between 
the  States  and  England  consists  in  the  absolute  abolition  of  all  pretence 
on  either  side — each  to  remain  masters  of  what  they  were  in  possession  of 
the  10/20  of  May  1667." 

20 


INDIAN    AND   DUTCH    PERIOD 

The  doughty  Van  Twiller  had  arrived  from  Holland  in  "De 
Zoutberg"  in  1633,  bringing  with  him  104  soldiers,  the  first 
military  force  sent  to  the  Province. 

Van  Twiller  is  believed  to  have  been  the  only  private  owner 
of  Governor's  Island.  After  his  departure  there  were  found 
"on  Nut  Island,  containing  about  80  morgens,*  a  house,  21 
pairs  of  goats,  together  with  various  goods  and  chattels." 
The  Island  was  then  directly  occupied  by  the  Government. 

We  do  not  read  of  any  fortifications  in  those  early  days  on 
Nutten  Island,  Van  Twiller's  soldiers  being  undoubtedly  quar- 
tered in  Fort  Amsterdam,  but  in  1639  the  saw  mill  on  the 
Island  was  leased  by  the  "Honorable,  Wise  and  Right  prudent, 
Mr.  William  Kieft"  to  Evert  Bischop,  Siebout  Claesen  and 
Harman  Bastiensen.  They  were  to  pay  five  hundred  mer- 
chantable or  sound  planks,  one-half  pine  and  the  other  oak  and 
to  saw  not  less  than  65  to  the  bulk. 

We  read  in  an  old  record  that  this  saw  mill  was  probably 
worked  by  the  tide  in  the  River  (Buttermilk  Channel).  Peter 
Stuyvesant  found  this  mill  completely  ruined  and  useless,  and 
in  January  1648  he  and  the  Council  resolved  that  the  best 
interests  of  the  Company  required  that  it  be  dismantled  by 
removing  the  iron  work  from  it  by  burning  the  mill. 

J.  H.  Innes  in  his  "New  Amsterdam  and  Its  People"  states 
that  the  machinery  for  a  saw  mill  arrived  from  Holland  about 
1626.  "This  mill  was  worked  by  wind  power  after  the  Hol- 
land fashion  and  was  erected  on  the  shores  of  Nutten — now 
Governor's — Island,  a  situation  which  will  seem  the  less  singu- 
lar if  one  calls  to  mind  not  only  the  facilities  for  floating  logs 
to  the  spot  from  the  neighbouring  shores  but  also  the  one  hun- 
dred acres  and  more  on  the  Island  itself.* 

The  ancient  engraving  (p.  16)  shows  a  windmill  near  Fort 
Amsterdam.  In  163 1  a  windmill  stood  on  Heere  Straat 
(Broadway)  near  what  is  now  Courtlandt  Street.     Governor 

*  In  Valentine's  Manual  we  read  that  Nutten  Island  contained  about 
160  acres  of  land,  an  interesting  fact  in  connection  with  the  restored  area 
amounting  (191 3)  in  all  to  173  acres.  "Morgen"  is  a  word  of  Dutch  origin 
denoting  a  land  measure  of  two  acres. 


HISTORY    OF    GOVERNORS    ISLAND 

Van  Twiller  began  the  enlargement  of  Fort  Amsterdam  at 
Bowling  Green  in  1633.  This  Fort  was  300  x  250  feet,  with 
stone  bastions.  It  contained  within  the  walls  the  Governor's 
House,  used  for  official  and  social  purposes,  and  a  stone  Gar- 
rison Chapel,  ^^2  X  52  feet  in  size. 


Lords  of  Governor's  Island  '    . 

Dutch  and  English  Colonial  Governors 

WouTER  Van  Twiller,  Appointed April,  1633 

Bought  Governor's  Island  i6th  June,  1637 

William   Kieft,  Appointed Mch.    28,  1638 

Petrus  Stuyvesant   May     11,  1647 

Richard  Nicolls    Sept.     8,  1664 

Francis  Lovelace   Aug.     17,  1668 

Cornelis  Evertse,  Jr.,  and  a  Council  of  War, 

Aug.  (N.  S.)  12,  1673 

Anthony  Colve   Sept.    19,  1673 

Edmund  Andros Nov.  (N.  S.)  10,  1674 

Anthony  Brockholles,  Commander-in-Chief  .Nov.    16,  1677 

Sir  Edmund  Andros,   Knight Aug.      7,  1678 

Anthony  Brockhales,  Commander-in-Chief, 

Jany.  (N.  S.)  13,  1681 

Thomas  Dongan    Aug.   27,  1683 

Sir  Edmund  Andros,  Knight Aug.    11,  1688 

Francis  Nicholson,  Lieut-Governor Oct.      9,  1688 

Jacob  Leisler June      3,  1686 

Harry  Sloughter Mch.   19,  1691 

Richard  Ingolsby,  Commander-in-Chief July     26,  1691 

Benjamin  Fletcher   Aug.    30,  1692 

22 


INDIAN    AND   DUTCH    PERIOD 

The  Earl  of  Bellomont April  13,  1698 

John  Nanfan,  Lieut.-Governor May  17,  1699 

The  Earl  of  Bellomont July  24,  1700 

Colonel  William  Smith  \   Mch.  5,  1701  \ 

Colonel  Abraham  De  Peyster  >-            to            V  Council 
Colonel  Peter  Schuyler            )  May  19,  1701  ) 

John  Nanfan,  Lieut.-Governor May  19,  1701 

Lord  Cornbury    May  3,  1702 

Lord  Lovelace  Dec.  18,  1708 

Peter   Schuyler,   President May  6,  1709 

Richard  Ingolsby,  Lieut.-Governor May  9,  1709 

Peter  Schuyler,  President May  25,  1709 

Richard  Ingolsby,  Lieut.-Governor June  i,  1709 

Gerardus   Beekman,   President April  10,  1710 

Robert  Hunter  June  14,  1710 

Peter   Schuyler,   President July  21,  1710 

William  Burnet   Sept.  17,  1720 

John  Montgomerie    April  15,  1728 

Rip  Van  Dam,  President July  i,  1731 

William  Cosby   Aug.  i ,  1732 

George   Clarke,   President Mch.  10,  1736 

George  Clarke,  Lieut.-Governor Oct.  30,  1736 

George  Clinton   Sept.  2,  1743 

Sir  Danvers  Osborne,  Bart Oct.  10,  1753 

James  De  Lancey,  Lieut.-Governor Oct.  12,  1755 

Sir  Charles  Hardy,  Knight Sept.  3,  1755 

James  De  Lancey,  Lieut.-Governor June  3,  1757 

Cadwallader  Colden,  President Aug.  4,  1760 

Cadwallader  Colden,  Lieut.-Governor Aug.  8,  1761 

Robert  Monckton   Oct.  26,  1761 

Cadv^allader  Colden,  Lieut.-Governor Nov.  18,  1761 

Robert  Monckton   June  14,  1762 

23 


HISTORY   OF   GOVERNOR  S   ISLAND 

Cadwallader  Colden^  Lieut.-Governor June  28,  1763 

Sir  Henry  Moore,  Bart Nov.  13,  1765 

Cadwallader  Colden,  Lieut.-Governor Nov.  12,  1769 

Earl  of  Dunmore Oct.  19,  1770 

William  Tryon    July  9,  1771 

Cadwallader  Colden,  Lieut.-Govemor April  7,  1774 

William  Tryon    June  28,  1775 

James  Robertson    )    Mch.  23,  1780 

Andrew  Elliott,   Lieut.-Governor  f  April  17,  1783 

Military   Governors,   not  recognized   by   the 
State  of  New  York. 


^t 


CHAPTER   II. 

English  Colonial  and  Revolutionary  Period 
1674-1783 

In  1698  the  Island  was  set  aside  by  the  Assembly  as  being 
"part  of  the  Denizen  of  His  Majestie's  Fort  at  New  York  for 
the  benefit  and  accommodation  of  his  Majestie's  Governors 
for  the  time  being,"  and  hence  it  came  to  be  familiarly  called 
"The  Governor's  Island."  In  the  course  of  time  the  word 
"The"  has  been  eliminated  from  the  title  by  common  usage. 
Some  authorities  dispense  with  the  possessive  apostrophe,  but 
this  use  has  not  been  generally  adopted.*  An  example  is  found 
in  the  use  of  "The,"  as  referred  to,  in  a  letter  from  Governor 
Tryon  to  the  Earl  of  Dartmouth,  dated  5th  September,  1775, 
in  which  he  says: 

"The  City  has  remained  quiet  .  .  .  Fresh  provisions  are 
to  be  delivered  on  the  Governor's  Island  for  the  Asia." 

The  later  Governors  in  some  cases  leased  the  Island  for 
their  own  profit.  There  is  a  tradition  that  Governor  Clinton 
leased  the  Island  for  a  race  course  to  a  Dr.  Price  who  built  a 
hotel  in  1784  and  that  horse  races  were  run  upon  it  in  1784-5. 
The  account  given  by  F.  B.  Hough  in  the  Historical  and  Sta- 
tistical Record  of  the  University  of  the  State  of  New  York  is 
authentic.     He  says: 

"By  Act  of  March  31,  1790,  for  the  encouragement  of  edu- 
cation. Governor's  Island  was  granted  to  the  Regents  unless 
needed  for  Military  purposes.  The  Committee  consisted  of 
Genl  Schuyler,  Mr  L'Hommedieu  and  Mr  Benson.  It  was 
leased  to  Mr  John  Price  for  twenty  one  years  at  an  annual 
rental  of  £93  with  a  deduction  for  taxes."  However,  this  was 
not  to  last  long,  for,  as  the  Report  goes  on  to  state,  "in  1794 
Commissioners  were  appointed  to  erect  fortifications,  works 
were  begun  on  Governor's  Island  and  the  Regents'  title  was 
voided." 

♦The  Eastern  Department  in  official  papers  has  for  some  time  past  dis- 
continued the  use  of  the  apostrophe. 


HISTORY   OF   GOVERNOR  S   ISLAND 

Other  works  cooperating  later  with  the  fortifications  of 
Governor's  Island  may  be  mentioned  as  throwing  light  upon 
the  progress  of  military  art  in  the  early  days  of  the  Province. 
Fort  Amsterdam  (at  Bowling  Green)  not  having  been  com- 
pleted up  to  the  time  of  Van  Twiller's  arrival  in  1633,  the 
structure  was  finished  in  1635.*  A  barracks  for  tlie  newly 
arrived  soldiers  was  built  within  the  walls,  while  to  the  south 
was  erected  the  (garrison)  Church  in  Governor  Keift's  time; 
1642.  The  principal  gate  opened  upon  Bowling  Green  and 
was  guarded  by  a  small  redoubt  called  a  horn,  which  many 
think  stood  just  where  the  present  enclosed  area  now  is.  In 
1664  when  the  English  took  New  York  the  name  of  the  fort 
was  changed  to  Fort  James,  later  to  Fort  Anne  and  then  to 
Fort  George. 

In  1667  Governor  Nicolls  referred  to  Bedlow's  Island  as 
the  "largest  of  the  Oyster  Islands."  It  received  its  name  from 
Isaac  Bedlow,  patentee  under  Governor  Nicolls.  Fort  Wood 
was  erected  on  this  Island  in  1841  at  a  cost  of  $21,300.  It 
mounted  77  guns  and  accommodated  a  garrison  of  350  men. 
This  was  built  upon  the  site  of  the  first  fortifications  erected 
about  the  year  1800. 

Governor  Lovelace  in  1669  issued  a  commission  for  Isaac 
Bedlow  (Bedloo)  as  follows,  and  a  year  later  conferred  special 
privileges  upon  Love  Island,  which  later  became  known  as 
Bedlow's  Island  and  is  so  called  today : 

Commission  for  Mr.  Isaac  Bedloo 

TO   BEE   CaPT.  of  A  FFOOT-COMPANY  IN   THIS   CiTY. 


1669.  By  Vertue  of  ye  Commission  &  Authority  unto 
mee  given  by  his  Royall  Highness  James  Duke  of  Yorke 
and  Albany  &c — I  doe  Constitute  &  Appoint  you  Isaac 
Bedloo  to  bee  Captn  of  a  Foot  Company  Lysted  or  to  bee 
Lysted  wth  in  this  City  and  precincts.  You  are  to  take  into 
yor  Charge  &  care  ye  said  Company  as  Captaine  thereof 
&  duely  to  Exercize  both  yor  inferiour  Ofiicrs  &  Souldyers 
in  Armes  &  to  use  your  best  care,  skill  &  Endeavour  to 
keep  them  in  good  Order  &  Discipline;  hereby  requiring 

*  See  illustration  p.  i6. 

26 


ENGLISH    COLONIAL   AND   REVOLUTIONARY    PERIOD 

all  inferiour  Officers  and  Souldyers  under  yor  Command 
to  obey  you  as  their  Captaine ;  *  *  *  *  according  to  ye 
Discipline  of  Warr.  Given  under  my  Hand  &  Scale  ye 
irst  day  of  [  ]  in  ye  2itli  yeare  of  his  Maties  Reigne, 
Anno  Domini  1669. 

Francis  Lovelace. 

From  Minutes  of  the  Executive  Council 
of  the  Province  of  New  York. 

On  August  10,  1670,  Lovelace  gave  the  new  name  of  "Love 
Island"  to  a  "Certaine  Little  Island  in  ye  Bay  neare  this  Citty 
comonly  called  Oyster  Island"  for  which  Bedlow  had  had  a 
"patent  graunted  by  Col  Richard  Nicolls  and  the  Island  was 
made  a  "Priviledged  place  where  no  Warrant  of  Attachmt  or 
arrest  shall  be  made  of  force  or  served  unless  it  be  by  ye 
Governors  Speciall  Warrant  in  Cases  of  breach  of  ye  peace  or 
Cryminall  Mattrs." 

Ellis  Island,  called  at  one  time  Gibbet  Island  on  account  of 
the  execution  of  a  number  of  pirates  upon  it,  called  also  Buck- 
ing Island  in  1674,  and  Oyster  Island  in  1808,  had  Fort  Gibson 
built  upon  it  in  1841  at  a  cost  of  $5,096,  mounting  15  guns 
manned  by  a  garrison  of  80  men. 

As  early  as  1809  the  Secretary  of  War  reports  on  Bedlow's 
Island  a  mortar  battery,  and  on  Ellis  Island  an  open  barbette 
battery  for  heavy  ordnance. 

A  council  was  held  at  Fort  William  Henry  on  the  26th  of 
September,  1691,  at  which  it  was  decreed  that  Nutten  Island 
and  the  so-called  Oyster  Islands,  viz,  Bedlow's,  Ellis  and  a 
third  (smaller)  Island  now  submerged,  be  added  to  the  County 
of  New  York,  whereupon  Colonel  Cortlandt  and  Chidley 
Brooks,  Esq.,  brought  back  the  bill  to  the  Assembly  desiring 
to  except  Nutten  Island  from  the  provisions  of  the  bill  inas- 
much as  it  "belongs  to  his  Majestie's  Fort  and  Garrison." 
This  decision  being  sent  up  again  to  the  Fort  and  approved  by 
the  Governor  and  Council,  the  bill  was  finally  sent  to  England 
for  the  King's  approval  and  it  was  confirmed  May  2nd,  1708, 
Nutten  Island  being  excepted  from  the  County,  but  later  by 
the  Montgomery  Charter  of  1750  Governor's  Island  was  made 

27 


HISTORY   OF   GOVERNOR  S    ISLAND 

part  of  the  City  of  New  York  and  by  act  of  March  7,  1788,  of 
the  County  of  New  York, 

In  this  connection  it  is  interesting  to  note  the  more  romantic 
way  in  which  our  sister  (Staten)  Island  gained  her  alhance 
with  the  Empire  State, 

Colonel  Morris  in  his  History  of  Staten  Island  states  that 
under  the  Dutch  rule  Staten  Island  taxes  were  collected  by 
the  New  Jersey  authorities  without  protest.  When  the  Eng- 
lish came  into  power  a  number  of  the  settlers  on  the  Island 
refused  to  pay  taxes  altogether. 

In  1668,  the  trouble  between  the  interested  parties  increas- 
ing, James,  Duke  of  York,  who  had  been  made  by  his  brother, 
King  Charles  II,  the  nominal  ruler  of  the  English  Provinces 
in  America,  decided  that  "all  Islands  in  the  Harbour  of  New 
York  which  could  be  circumnavigated  in  twenty-four  hours 
should  belong  to  the  Colony  of  New  York ;  otherwise,  to  New 
Jersey,"  whereupon  Captain  Christopher  Billopp,  commander 
of  a  little  vessel  at  the  port  of  Perth  Amboy,  made  the 
voyage  around  Staten  Island  with  an  hour  or  so  to  spare. 
It  is  said  that  he  covered  the  deck  of  his  vessel  with 
empty  barrels,  thus  gaining  considerable  sailing  power.  His 
reward  from  the  Duke  was  the  present  of  a  tract  of  land  of 
1163  acres. 

The  village  of  Tottenville  now  stands  upon  this  tract.  In 
spite  of  the  settlement  made  by  the  Duke  of  York  the  question 
of  State  ownership  still  remained  more  or  less  open  between 
New  York  and  New  Jersey  until  it  was  finally  adjusted  to 
mutual  satisfaction  in  1833. 

The  English  Colonial  Governors  Sloughter,  Fletcher  and 
Cornbury,  from  1691  to  1702  urged  the  fortification  of  New 
York  Harbour.  All  that  was  secured  was  £1500  for  defences 
at  the  Narrows,  which  sum,  a  large  one  at  that  day,  was  ex- 
pended by  Lord  Cornbury  for  a  pleasure  house  on  Governor's 
Island  to  which  he  and  other  Governors  were  wont  to  retire 
to  "free  themselves  from  business."  The  picturesque  title  it 
bore  described  it  well,  no  doubt — "The  Smiling  Garden  of  the 
Sovereigns  of  the  Province."     Governor  Clarke  in  1738  again 

28 


EXGLISII    COLONIAL   AND   REVOLUTIONARY   PERIOD 

urged  the  importance  of  proper  defences.  Lord  Loudoun's 
arrival  with  a  large  fleet  in  1756,  however,  allayed  fears  of 
invasion  and  until  June  28,  1775,  Governor's  Island  was  suc- 
cessively the  perquisite  and  residence  of  Governors  Hardy, 
Delancy,  Golden,  Aloore,  Dunmore  and  Tryon.*  Other  Gov- 
ernors leased  it  during  their  terms  of  office,  as  we  learn  inci- 
dentally from  a  communication  to  Lord  Dunmore. 

In  1770  Richard  Deane  petitioned  Lord  Dunmore  in  the 
following  plaintive  strain:  "Your  Lordship's  Petitioner  most 
humbly  showeth  that  he  hath  rented  an  Island  called  the 
Governor's  Island  from  his  Honour  *****  that  he 
hath  been  at  great  expence  cultivating  said  Island  *  *  *  * 
that  your  Lordship's  Petitioner  hath  been  led  by  Ruleing  hand 
of  kind  Providence  to  be  your  Lordship's  first  tenant  in 
America  *  *  *  *  And  your  Petitioner  as  in  duty  bound 
will  not  only  ever  pray — ^but  will  pay  your  Lordship's  Rent 
very  punctually."  It  does  not  appear  from  what  has  come 
down  to  posterity  just  what  Richard  Deane  desired  to  obtain 
from  his  noble  landlord,  but  let  us  hope  the  sentiment  with 
which  he  closed  his  appeal  had  the  desired  effect. 

Lord  Cornbury  came  into  possession  of  the  Island  as  Gov- 
ernor of  the  Province  of  New  York  in  1702  and  caused  :£i500 
to  be  raised  by  various  assessments,  among  the  many  enumer- 
ated being  a  "tax  of  Five  shillings  and  six  pence  for  every  per- 
son that  Wares  a  Perl  Ring:  Every  Bachelor  above  the  Age 
of  twenty-five  years  two  shillings  and  five  pence,"  and  used 
that  money,  according  to  Lt.-Governor  Cadwallader  Colden, 
and  as  above  noted,  to  build  a  pleasure  house  for  himself  and 
succeeding  Governors. 

It  is  not  known  on  what  part  of  the  Island  this  Governor's 
House  was  situated.  It  seems  most  reasonable  to  suppose 
that  Lord  Cornbury  chose  the  finest  situation  for  elevation  and 
general  outlook  in  the  middle  of  the  Island  where  the  present 
Fort  Jay  now  stands.  The  building  now  used  for  Post  Head- 
quarters was  called  "the  Governor's  House"  as  late  as  1840, 

*  Governor  Kieft,  who  succeeded  Van  Twiller,  had  a  plantation  on  the 
Island  which  he  leased  at  an  annual  rental  of  150  pounds  of  tobacco. 

29 


HISTORY  OF  GOVERNOR  S   ISLAND 

but  there  appears  no  other  reason  than  that  to  suppose  it  was 
built  by  Lord  Cornbury. 

An  oil  painting  from  the  collection  of  the  late  Revd.  Charles 
Hoffman,  D.D.,  now  the  property  of  his  daughter,  Mrs.  J.  Van 
Vecliten  Olcott  of  New  York,  marked  "Governor's  Island, 
1750 — F.  Willa,"  shows  a  splendid  castle  in  French  renaissance 
style  upon  the  N.  E.  part  of  the  Island  where  the  Post  Head- 
quarters building  now  stands.  This  building  is  so  massive 
and  extensive  that  it  appears  incredible  it  should  have  disap- 
peared and  left  no  trace  behind.  The  presence  in  the  channel 
of  many  Dutch  vessels  (1750)  and  other  apparent  inconsisten- 
cies lead  to  a  belief  that  the  artist  used  his  imagination  to  an 
extent  not  justified  by  the  facts  in  the  case. 

The  pomp  and  circumstance  attending  the  office  of  Gover- 
nor at  this  period  and  the  formality  of  official  language  are 
well  illustrated  in  an  Address  presented  to  Lord  Cornbury 
upon  his  arrival.  This  is  taken  from  the  Minutes  of  the 
Common  Council  of  the  City  of  New  York,  published  by 
authority : 

To  His  Excellency  the  Right  Honble  Eduard  Lord  Corn- 
bury Capt  Genii  and  Governour  in  Chiefe  of  his  Majesties 
Province  of  New  Yorke  and  Territories  depending  thereon 
in  America  and  Vice  Admiral  of  the  same,  &c.* 

The  Humble  Address  of  the  Mayor  Al[d]ermen  and 
Commonality  of  the  Citty  of  New  Yorke 
(486)  May  itt  please  your  Excellency 
In  the  Name  and  on  the  behalfe  of  the  Freemen  and 
Inhabitants  of  this  his  Majesties  Corporation  and  Citty 
of  New  Yorke  Wee  doe  heartily  Congratulate  your 
Lordships  safe  Arrival  in  this  your  Government  &  as 
Wee  Cannot  Entertain  to  Gratefull  A  sence  of  his 
Maje^^ties  Roy  all  bounty  *  *  in  making  soe  Excellent 
and  prudent  A  Choice  in  sending  your  Lordship  A  per- 
son of  so  great  and  Noble  birth  Skillfull  in  the  Art  of 
Warr  *  *  to  secure  us  from  the  *  *  Enemy  Abroad 
and  Cause  us  to  flourish  with  *  *  Tranquility  att 
home    *    *    soe    Shall    we    Studiously    Endeavour    to 

*  Edward  Hyde,  Lord  Cornbury,  3rd  Earl  of  Clarendon,  succeeded  in 
1709  to  the  title  of  his  father,  Henry,  2nd  Earl  of  Clarendon. 

30 


ENGLISH    COLONIAL   AND   REVOLUTIONARY   PERIOD 

Demonstrate  and  Express  that  Gratitude  in  our  ready 
Complyance  with  Everything  in  our  power  which  Your 
Lordship  *  *  shall  judge  Necessary  and  Contrihute  to 
his  Majesties'  Service  and  Honour  *  *  *  That  God  in 
his  Infinite  Mercy  and  goodness  will  Vouchsafe  to  bless 
his  Majesty  with  A  long  And  happy  Reign  Over  us 
*  *  *  is  the  fervent  prayer  of 

Your  Lordship's  most  dutifull 
May,  1702.  humble  servants. 

Governor  Cornbury,  twenty-second  Lord  of  Governor's 
Island,  built  an  official  residence  here  in  the  early  years  of  the 
1 8th  century  according  to  good  authority,  but  no  records  of  it 
are  to  be  found.''' 

That  the  cost  of  living  was  high  in  New  York  in  the  time 
of  Cornbury  as  now  we  learn  from  an  order  published  for  the 
benefit  of  officers  and  soldiers  by  the  Common  Council  of  the 
City  of  New  York  held  at  the  City  Hall  on  Tuesday  the  26th 
day  of  May  Anno  Dom  1702,  at  which  were  present 
Thomas  Noell,  Esqr.,  Mayor, 

Sampson   Shelton   Broughton,   Esqr.,   Recorder   and   ten 
Aldermen. 

The  order  is  as  follows : 

Whereas  his  most  sacred  Majestyf  Among  many  Other 
princely  favours  Shown  to  this  Province  hath  sent  Over 
during  the  Late  Warr  A  Considerable  Number  of  forces 
to  protect  and  secure  us  from  the  Insults  of  our  Enemies 
the  French  of  Canada  and  their  Indians  *  *  *  And 
Whereas  all  manner  of  Provisions  and  Api)arrell  arc  much 
dearer  in  this  Citty  than  in  England  whereby  the  said 
Soldiers  Cannot  Conveniently  subsist  of  their  pay  only, 
but  the  most  of  them  being  Tradesmen  which  had  they 
A  Liberty  to  Exercise  within  this  Corporation  itt  would 
not  Only  Enable  them  to  live  [492]  Comfortably  but  Im- 
pede their  dissertion  and  Encourage  them  /;/  tlicin  in  their 
duty,  *  *  And  Whereas  by  the  i»y  Laws  of  this  Cor- 
poration No  person  Whatever  Can  Keep  Shop  or  Exer- 
cise Any  handy  Craft  Trade  or  Occupation  but  such  as 
are  Freeman  thereof,  Therefore  this   Court  doe  hereby 

•See  p.  29.     t  With  reference  to  capitalization  see  note  on  p.  9. 

31 


HISTORY  OF  GOVERNOR  S  ISLAND 

Resolve  and  Order  that  all  the  Officers  and  Soldiers  (who 
are  his  Majesties  Natural  born  Subjects  belonging  to  his 
Majesties  Garrison  Forte  William  Henry*  within  this 
Citty  be  made  Freemen  of  this  Corporation  Gratis  &  Or- 
dered that  the  Mayor  Recorder  and  Aldermen  Administer 
unto  them  the  Oath  of  A  Freeman  and  Grant  them  Cer- 
tificates thereof  under  the  scale  of  the  Citty  and  that  the 
Town  Gierke  Register  their  Names  as  Freemen  Accord- 
ingly Any  former  Law  to  the  Contrary  in  Anywise  Not- 
withstanding. 

The  provisions  of  this  humane  regulation  were  extended, 
as  far  as  possible,  to  the  troops  later  stationed  on  Governor's 
Island. 

In  1 710  large  bodies  of  Palatines  were  sent  to  America  and 
it  was  decided  by  the  Colonial  Authorities  that  Nutten  Island 
was  the  "properest  place  to  put  them,"  and  two  carpenters, 
Johannes  Hebon  and  Peter  Williamse,  were  ordered  to  "wait 
on  the  Presidentf  to  Nutten  Island  at  two  in  the  afternoon  with 
respect  to  Building  huts"  for  the  Exiles,  Governor  Hunter 
immediately  established  special  Courts  of  Judicature  "because 
the  said  Island  lyeth  not  within  the  body  of  any  County  of  this 
Province  and  in  noe  wise  subject  to  the  Jurisdiction  of  any  of 
the  Courts  that  are  established  within  the  same." 

It  is  stated  that  from  seven  to  ten  thousand  of  these  exiles 
were  encamped  here  at  one  time.  They  were  later  sent  up  the 
Hudson  to  Greene  and  Columbia  Counties,  where  their  de- 
scendants may  be  found  to  this  day. 

Governor  Cosby  during  his  office  used  Governor's  Island 
for  a  game  preserve.  In  1738  the  Legislature  passed  an  act  to 
preserve  the  breed  of  English  pheasants  in  this  colony.  The 
Act  declares  that  "whereas  the  late  Governor  (Cosby)  did 
place  about  one  half  dozen  couple  of  English  pheasants  upon 
Nutten  Island  and  pinioned  them  to  the  end  that  they  might 
remain  there  to  propagate  their  species  with  a  view  that  their 
increase  would  spread  from  there  and  stock  the  country  with 
their  kind ;  and  whereas  the  said  fowls  not  only  have  increased 
vastly  upon  the  said  Island  but  many  of  them  have  already 

*  The  Fort  at  Bowling  Green,    t  Peter  Schuyler. 

32 


f        ENGLISH    COLONIAL   AND   REVOLUTIONARY   PERIOD 

spread  over  to  Nassau  (Long  Island)  and  in  all  probability- 
will  soon  stock  the  country  if  people  are  restrained  from  de- 
stroying them  for  a  few  years,  the  present  Governor  being  also 
desirous  that  the  whole  Colony  may  be  stocked  with  these 
birds — it  is  enacted  that  no  birds  shall  be  killed  nor  eggs  taken 
for  one  year."*  So  from  the  time  the  103  head  of  cattle  were 
landed  on  Pagganck  Island  from  the  "New  Netherlands"  in 
1623  and  Wouter  Van  Twiller  had  his  21  pairs  of  goats  in 
1637  and  the  Government  in  1738  went  into  the  business  of 
pheasant  farming,  down  to  the  present  day,  when  the  squirrels 
introduced  by  Major-General  Nelson  A.  Miles  in  1895  are 
still  under  official  protection,  our  Island  has  maintained  a 
creditable  reputation  for  interest  in  animal  life. 

The  Governors  of  tliat  period,  however,  took  thought  for 
more  important  matters  than  the  propagation  of  valuable 
birds,  as  we  learn  from  Governor  Clarke's  speech  of  5th  Sep- 
tember, 1738,  in  which  he  strongly  recommends  fortifications. 

Addressing  the  Legislature  the  15th  of  April,  1741,  he  said: 
"There  is  great  cause  to  apprehend  a  speedy  rupture  with 
France.     Your  situation  ought  therefore  to  awaken  you  to  see 

the  importance  of  erecting  batteries  in  proper  places 

and  one  at  Red  Hook  to  prevent  the  enemy  landing  upon 
Governor's  Island."  Governor  Clinton,  addressing  the  As- 
sembly April  17th,  1744,  also  urged  action  to  prevent  the 
enemy  landing  any  force  or  artillery  on  Nutten  Island. 

The  first  mention  of  troops  on  Governor's  Island  is  in  con- 
nection with  Alajor-General  William  Pepperell's  Regiment  as 
follows : 

"New  York,  June  the  3rd,  1755. 
Rec'd  of  the  TTonorable  James  l)e  Lansea,  Esq.,  the 
sum  of  Three  Pounds,  fourteen  shillings  and  nine  pence 
for  five  cords  and  three  quarters  of  Oak  wood  for  tlie  use 
of  Sir.  Wm.  Pepperell's  Regiment  encamped  on  Nutten 
Island  in  full  pr.  Me  ben  hildreth." 

It  is  interesting  to  note  that  this  Major-General  Sir  William 
Pepperell  was  an  American  Soldier,  born  in  Kittery,  Maine, 

*  From  "Social  Life  under  the  Georges,"  by  E.  Singleton. 

33 


HISTORY   OF   GOVERNOR  S   ISLAND 

in  1696.     In  1726  Pepperell  was  made  Colonel  of  Militia  and 
in  1730  a  Chief  Justice  of  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas. 

In  1745  he  was  Commander-in-chief  of  the  New  England 
force  of  4000  men  which,  assisted  by  a  British  Squadron  under 
Commodore  Peter  Warren,  captured  the  French  fortress  of 
Louisburg.  For  his  services  Pepperell  was  created  a  baronet, 
the  only  New  Englander  so  honoured.  He  received  the  rank 
of  Lieutenant-General  in  1759. 

General  James  Grant  Wilson  and  John  Fiske  say  of  Pep- 
perell that  "the  greater  names  of  Washington  and  the  Revo- 
lutionary generals  have  eclipsed  that  of  Pepperell,  but  it  should 
not  be  forgotten  that  he  did  more  than  any  other  man  to  pre- 
pare the  army  that  was  afterward  to  achieve  American  inde- 
pendence." 

A  later  reference  to  the  regiment  of  Sir  William  is  found 
in  a  bill  for  straw  under  date  of  Aug.  23,  1755,  when  it  was 
stationed  on  Governor's  Island : 
James  Delansea,  Esq., 

To  Cornelius  Tiebout. 
To  322  bundles  straw  for  Gene'l  Pepparill's  Redgement, 
@  4  d.  is"  7"  4- 

The  following  orders,  taken  from  the  certified  minutes  of 
the  Common  Council,  make  mention  of  the  Military  Establish- 
ment on  Governor's  Island  in  official  records. 

At  a  Common  Council  held  at  the  City  Hall  of  the  said  City 
on  Saturday  the  28th  day  of  August,  Anno  Dom.  1756, 

(462) 

Mr.  Mayor  Informed  this  board  that  Collo.  Young  in 
the  name  of  Collo.  Stanwich  Desired  that  this  Corporation 
would  be  pleased  to  advance  and  furnish  his  IMajesties' 
forces  on  Nutten  Island  with  Straw  and  wood  during 
their  Stay  there,  whereupon  this  board  having  Considered 
the  Same  Do  agree  that  this  board  Do  advance  on  the 
Credit  of  the  Government  a  Sum  not  exceeding  fifty 
pounds  for  the  purpose  aforesaid. 

Governor  Hardy  as  early  as  1756  saw  the  strategical  im- 
portance of  Governor's  Island  and  wrote  as  follows : 

34 


ENGLISH    COLOXTAL    AND    REVOLUTIONARY    PERIOD 

Governor  Hardy  to  the  Lords  of  Trade. 

Fort  George,  New  York 

27  October.  1756. 

:{:  Hi  :iJ  :J:  *  *  *  *  * 

It  will  be  highly  proper  to  put  this  Province  into  a 
State  of  Defence  from  any  attack  by  Sea.  *  *  *  Some 
heavy  cannon  should  be  mounted  upon  Nutten  Island  on 
the  Ground  that  if  the  enemy  should  attack  the  City  with 
a  fleet  they  will  make  themselves  masters  of  it  from 
whence  they  can  easily  bombard  the  City. 

References  to  a  Colonial  Regiment  styled  the  Royal  Ameri- 
cans are  found  in  the  following  orders.  It  will  be  noticed  that 
the  date  is  twenty  years  preceding  the  Declaration  of  Inde- 
pendence : 

Common  Councill, 
City  Hall,  Oct.  19, 
No.  Anno  Domini,  1756. 

1345 

Warrant  issued. 

Order'd  the  Like  of  Mr.  Christopher  Bancker  or  his 
order  the  Sum  of  Nine  pounds  two  shillings  in  full  for 
the  Like  sum  by  him  advanced  and  paid  for  his  fire  wood 
for  the  use  of  the  Royall  Americans  on  Nutten  Island  as 
per  his  said  Account  Audited  by  this  board  and  allowed  of. 

Meeting  of  Common  Councill, 
No.  City  Hall,  Nov.  8,  1756. 

1346 
Warrant  issued. 

Ordered  that  Mr.  Recorder  issue  his  warrant  to  the 
Treasurer  of  the  City  to  pay  to  Jacob  Bremington  or  his 
order  the  sum  of  five  pounds  four  shillings  in  full  of  his 
account  for  Straw  by  him  provided  for  the  Royal  Ameri- 
cans. 

Ten  years  later  we  read  in  Captain  John  Montressor's  Jour- 
nal of  further  plans  for  the  fortification  of  Governor's  Island. 
Captain  Montressor  was  styled  the  "Chief  Engineer  of 
America,"  and  he  reports  as  follows  under  date  of  Sept.  9, 
1766: 

35 


HISTORY  OF  governor's   ISLAND 

Delivered  to  the  Commander  in  Chief  my  Report. 
Made  my  design  'on  a  Scale  of  200  feet  to  the  inch  for 
fortifying  Governor's  or  Nutten  Island." 

And  again: 

May  12,  1767. 
On  return  from  inspection  at  Albany,  May  12th,  a  fair 
wind  &  the  13th  at  York.  The  whole  Regiment  was 
found  encamped  on  the  Island,  the  22nd  and  two  Bat- 
talions of  Royal  Americans.  Encamped  outside  of  ye 
Stockade  also  the  44th." 

This  Report  indicates  the  presence  of  two  Regiments  in  ad- 
dition to  the  Royal  Americans  and  makes  incidental  reference 
to  a  stockade  which  probably  enclosed  the  main  Garrison. 

In  Jared  Sparks'  Life  of  Washington  we  learn  something  of 
the  formation  of  this  Regiment,  the  first  one  of  whicli  there  is 
record  by  name  on  Governor's  Island. 

"Lord  Loudoun  as  Commander  of  the  forces  in  America," 
he  says,  "was  empowered  to  raise  a  Regiment  in  the  Colonies 
consisting  of  four  battalions  to  be  commanded  by  officers  bear- 
ing the  King's  Commission  and  called  the  Royal  American 
Regiment.  Recruiting  officers  were  employed  in  Virginia  en- 
listing men  for  the  Royal  Regiment.  The  Assembly  voted 
£8000  to  be  paid  for  enlisting  men  and  transporting  them  to 
New  York. 

The  Maryland  Assembly  appropriated  £5000  to  aid  enlist- 
ments in  that  Colony  for  the  Royal  Americans  and  resolved  to 
raise  300  men.  A  bounty  was  given  not  exceeding  £5  for  each 
man  enlisted. 

Horatio  Gates,  later  (June,  1775)  Adjutant-General  in  the 
American  Army  with  the  rank  of  brigader-general,  was  an 
officer  in  this  Regiment.  Gates  was  aide-de-camp  to  General 
Monckton  in  his  expedition  against  Martinique  in  1762.  He 
was  a  bearer  of  despatches  to  London  announcing  the  success- 
ful result  of  this  victory  and  was  rewarded  by  being  made 
Major  in  the  Royal  Americans. 

It  is  fair  to  assume  he  was  stationed  on  Governor's  Island 
in  1767,  for  Captain  John  Montressor  in  his  Report  of  May 

36 


ENGLISH    COLONIAL   AND   REVOLUTIONARY   PERIOD 

I2th  in  that  year,  says  he  "found  the  whole  Regiment  encamped 
on  the  Island,  the  22(1,  and  two  Battalions  of  Royal  Americans, 
also  the  44th  Regt."  (p.  36). 

In  the  Military  Department  of  the  New  York  Public  Library 
is  a  valuable  set  of  Army  lists  of  the  British  Forces,  published 
by  order  of  the  Honorable  Secretary  at  War,  of  separate  vol- 
umes in  superb  bindings,  1754  to  1842.  The  volumes  bear  the 
crest  and  bookplate  of  Colonel  FitzClarence,  Earl  of  Munster, 
who  died  in  London,  1842.  The  changes  in  the  personnel  of  the 
various  years  are  carefidly  written  in.  From  these  reports  we 
learn  that  the  62nd  Regiment  of  Foot  was  styled  "Royal  Ameri- 
cans" in  1756.  In  1757  the  number  was  changed  to  60th  Regt 
of  Foot  and  so  remained,  the  Regiment  being  stationed  here 
continuously  till  1773  when  it  was  ordered  to  the  West  Indies. 

The  uniform  of  the  Royal  Americans  originally  was  Red 
faced  with  Blue,  but  as  we  learn  from  these  Reports,  the  uni- 
form was  changed  in  1770  to  "Red  faced  with  Blue,  White 
Lace,  with  2  blue  Stripes." 

The  uniform  of  the  44th  Regiment  of  Foot,  stationed  in 
1767  on  Governor's  Island,  was  Red  faced  with  Yellow. 

The  uniform  of  the  22d  Regiment  of  Foot,  which  we  learn 
from  Montressor's  Report  was  here  with  the  Royal  Americans, 
was  Red  faced  with  pale  Blue. 

John  Campbell,  4th  Earl  of  Loudoun,  was  appointed  Com- 
mander in  Chief  of  the  British  forces  in  America,  March  20, 
1756.  Lord  Loudoun  commanded  the  Royal  Americans  for  a 
number  of  years  with  the  title  "Colonel  in  Chief,"  having  under 
his  command  in  1756  four  "Colonels  Commandant,"  viz.:  John 
Stanwix,  Joseph  Dusseaux,  Charles  Jefifcryes,  James  Prevost 
and  Majors  J.  Young,  J.  Robertson,  J.  Rutherford,  Augustine 
Prevost  and  Chaplains  Thomas  Gawton  and  Wm.  Nicholas 
Jackson. 

Eighteen  years  later,  when  the  Regiment  had  been  for  a 
year  at  Jamaica  and  Antigua,  1774,  many  names  of  the  officers, 
advanced  in  grade,  and  of  Chaplain  Jackson,  are  still  found 
which  were  on  the  roster  of  1756  at  Governor's  Island. 

The  Royal  American,  60th  Regiment  of  Foot,  is  (1913)  the 

37 


HISTORY   OF   GOVERNOR  S   ISLAND 

King's  Royal  Rifle  Corps.  Uniform,  Green  with  Scarlet  fac- 
ings. Two  battalions  are  stationed  in  England  and  two  in 
India. 

Motto : 
Celer 

et 
Aiidax 

The  44th  Regiment  of  Foot  is  now  the  Essex  Regiment. 
One  battalion  is  stationed  at  Qiietta  and  one  at  Bordon. 

The  22d  Regiment  of  Foot  is  now  the  Cheshire  Regiment. 
Uniform,  Scarlet  with  Bufif  facings.  One  battalion  is  at  Bel- 
fast and  one  at  Jubbulpore. 

Hart's  Annual  for  1913  gives  the  King's  Rifle  Corps,  as 
"formerly  the  60th."  The  Colonel  in  Chief  is  His  Majesty 
the  King  and  the  Senior  of  the  four  Colonels  Commandant  is 
the  Rt.  Hon.  Francis  Wallace,  Lord  Grenfell,  K.C.B.,  G.C.M.G. 
The  other  Colonels  Commandant  are  Sir  Wykeham  Leigh 
Pemberton,  K.C.B.,  Sir  Cromer  Ashburnham,  K.C.B.,  and 
Sir  Edward  Thomas  H.  Hutton,  K.C.M.G.,  K.C.B. 

During  the  Revolutionary  War  concerts  were  given  by  the 
Royal  American  Band  at  Burns'  New  Assembly  Rooms.  This 
popular  assembly,  where  the  fashionables  gathered  much  as 
they  do  at  Delmonico's  and  Sherry's  today,  was  at  the  upper 
end  of  Bowling  Green,  near  the  Van  Courtlandt  House.  Bene- 
dict Arnold  lodged  here  for  a  time  after  his  desertion  from 
.the  Army. 

Another  reference  is  found  to  this  early  Governor's  Island 
Regiment  during  the  Stamp  Act  troubles  when  General  Gage 
ordered  Fort  George  at  Bowling  Green  to  be  dismantled  in 
order  to  appear  to  the  people  "Less  menacing  and  unfriendly." 
The  work  was  performed  by  the  detachments  of  Royal  Ar- 
tillery, assisted  by  the  Royal  American  Regiment  who  went 
over  from  Governor's  Island  for  that  purpose. 

It  was  not  long  before  the  mutterings  of  war  were  heard. 
An  intimation  of  this  which  shows  that  Governor's  Island  was 
of  value  not  only  for  "refreshment  after  the  cares  of  business," 

38 


ENGLISH    COLONIAL   AND    REVOLUTIONARY    PERIOD 

but  for  more  important  reasons,  is  disclosed  in  a  letter  from 
Governor  Tryon  to  the  Earl  of  Dartmouth, 

New  York,  i6th  Oct.  1775 
My  Lord:i — 

The  City  has  been  in  continual  agitation  and  ferment 
encreased  by  a  recommenda'tn  and  resolve  of  the  Con- 
tinental Congress  that  this  provincial  Congress  should 
take  into  consideration  the  expediency  of  siezing  or 
securing  the  Crown  Officers  *  *  *  j  kept  out  of  Town 
all  Thursday  at  the  Governor's  Island  and  in  the  evening 
the  Asia  boat  landed  me  at  Long  Island  and  (I)  lay  at 
Mr.  Astell's  at  Flatbush. 

In  a  letter  to  Lord  Dartmouth  under  date  of  June  7th,  1775, 
the  Governor  speaks  of  "the  critical  and  dangerous  situation 
of  the  British  soldiers  quartered  in  New  York,  the  men  desert- 
ing in  considerable  numbers  and  being  the  object  of  attack. 

General  Gage  proposed  putting  the  soldiers  and  their  families 
on  board  H.  B.  M.  S.  "Asia."  After  some  delay,  the  situation 
becoming  more  acute,  the  following  order  was  issued : 

To  Major  Hamilton, 
i8th  Regiment, 
Spring  Hill. 

5th  June,  1775 
The  difficulty  about  the  Women  and  children  which 
occasioned  an  alteration  of  our  first  Determination  to  put 
the  troops  Tuider  Command  on  board  of  the  Asia  being 
obviated  by  removing  the  Women  to  Governor's  Island 
*****  You  have  my  leave  to  encamp  the  Women 
on  the  Governor's  Island  and  if  there  is  any  room  in  the 
House  which  the  Family  who  live  there  do  not  make  use 
of,  I  am  willing  the  woinen  should  have  it.  You  will 
please  to  give  orders  that  they  by  no  means  burn  or  de- 
stroy the  Fences  or  do  any  kind  of  Injury  to  any  thing  on 
the  Island. 

I  am,  etc., 

Cadwallader  Colden, 
Lieut.  Gov'r  Province  of  New  York. 

A  citadel  and  outworks  were  begun  in  1775.     General  orders 

39 


HISTORY   OF   GOVERNOR  S    ISLAND 

of  April  i6th,  1775,  read:  "Colonel  Prescott's  Regiment  is  to 
encamp  on  Governor's  Island  *  *  *  They  are  to  give  every 
assistance  in  their  power  to  the  works  erecting  thereon."  This 
Regiment,  the  famous  Bunker  Hill  Regiment,  was  joined  later 
by  the  4th  Continental  Infantry,  Colonel  Nixon  Command- 
ing. 

Some  highly  interesting  facts  in  regard  to  the  fortification 
of  the  Island  at  this  period  are  learned  from  a  letter  written 
by  Benjamin  Franklin  to  General  Lee  in  which  he  encloses  a 
long  communication  from  Trevor  Newland  Stafford.  The 
fact  of  its  quotation  implies  Franklin's  approval  of  the  senti- 
ments expressed  by  Stafford.  Extracts  from  the  letter 
follow : 

To  the  Honourable  Charles  Lee,  Esq., 

Lieut.-General  of  the  Continental  Army, 
New  York. 

5th  February,  1776. 
********* 

I'm  amazed  at  a  ship  or  two  laying  at  New  York  in 
open  violation  of  ye  United  Provinces.  The  Asia  lay 
along  in  the  North  River  and  refused  to  go  into  ye  Sound. 
*****  'piigj-e  is  Nutten  (Governor's  Island)  well 
situated  to  place  Guns  and  I  imagine  300  or  400  men 
would  be  sufficient  to  compleat  all  the  works  in  one  night : 
the  greatest  difficulty  would  be  to  get  cannon  to  Nutten 
Island.  It  would  be  impossible  to  point  out  Either  the 
facilitys  or  difficultys  in  the  course  of  a  letter.  The  great- 
est difficulty  will  be  to  keep  it  secret  from  the  people  of 
New  York.  *****  jf  there  was  a  lodgement  with 
some  Guns  upon  Nutten  Island  '''  *  *  as  soon  as  the 
Batterys  upon  Nutten  Island  began  to  play  there  should 
be  some  of  the  Connecticut  men  ready  to  run  down  upon 
the  Wharfs  with  some  few  guns  ahead  and  astern  with 
grape  to  clear  tlie  decks  and  fire  into  the  ports.  Six  Guns 
would  be  sufficient  upon  Nutten  Island  and  12  pdrs  would 
be  heavy  enough.  *  *  *  *  l  imagine  Lord  Stirling 
would  be  a  very  proper  person  to  command  the  detach- 
ment.* B.  Franklin. 

*Frora  the  Lee  Papers — New  York  Historical  Society. 

40 


ENGLISH    COLONIAL   AND   REVOLUTIONARY   PERIOD    • 

That  the  fortifications  were  finally  completed  we  learn  from 
a  letter  written  three  months  later  by  General  Washington  to 
Lieutenant-General  Charles  Lee,  as  follows : 


New  York,  l\Iay  9,  1776. 
My  dear  Lee  : 

We  have  done  a  great  deal  of  work  at  this  place.  In  a 
fortnight  more  I  think  the  City  will  be  in  a  very  respect- 
able posture  of  defense.  *  *  *  Governor's  Island  has  a 
large  and  strong  work  erected  and  a  Regiment  encamped 
there.  All  the  ships  of  war  have  left  this  place  and  gone 
down  to  the  Hook  except  the  Asia  *  *  *  With  compli- 
ments to  the  gentlemen  of  my  acquaintance  with  you  and 
with  the  most  fervent  wishes  for  your  health  and  success, 
I  remain  your  most  affectionate 

G.  Washington. 


That  the  guns  mounted  on  Governor's  Island  gave  an  ac- 
count of  themselves  we  learn  from  the  journal  of  Lieut. -Colonel 
Stephen  Kemble*  of  H.  M.  60th  Foot.  He  notes  under  date  of 
July  6,  1776,  two  months  following  Washington's  statement, 
that  Governor's  Island  has  a  large  and  strong  work — "Observe 
the  Rebels  have  fortified  Governor's  Island  very  strongly" — 
and  on  July  12,  1776,  that  "About  half  after  three  in  the  After- 
noon His  Majesty's  Ship  Phoenix,  commanded  by  Captain 
Parker,  and  the  Rose,  by  Captain  Wallace,  with  the  Tryal 
Schooner  and  two  Tenders  got  under  sail  to  pass  the  Town  of 
New  York. 

They  received  the  whole  of  the  Rebel  fire  from  Red  Hook, 
Governor's  Island,  the  Battery  and  from  some  Guns  in  the 
Town.    *    *    *    :k    *    ^|.  j^^if  pj^g^  fQ^jj.  ^i^g  ships  were  past  all 

the  Batteries.     Number  of  Shots  fired  by  the  Rebels,  196. 

*  Stephen  Kemble  was  born  in  New  Brunswick,  New  Jersey.  In  1740 
he  was  commissioned  an  Ensign  in  H.  M.  44th  Regt.  of  Foot,  and  in  1765 
a  captain  in  the  Rojal  Americans,  H.  M.  60th  Foot. 

Colonel  Kemble  served  under  General  Gage  and  Sir  William  Howe 
later  In  Boston,  and  in  1779  joined  the  60th  Foot  in  Jamaica. 

41 


HISTORY   OF    GOVERNOR  S   ISLAND 

In  August  Lord  Stirling  wrote:*  "The  General  bids 
me  say  that  in  our  present  situation  Governor's  Island  is 
more  strong  and  better  guarded  than  any  other  post  in  the 
Army," 

The  obstructions  between  Governor's  Island  and  the  Bat- 
tery mentioned  in  orders  consisted  of  hulks  sunk  in  the 
Channel. 

Cooperating  with  the  defences  at  Governor's  Island,  which 
in  those  days  of  short  range  might  be  almost  considered  as 
outworks,  were  others  in  the  City  itself  and  it  may  surprise  the 
reader  of  today  to  know  of  their  number  in  close  proximity 
to  Governor's  Island.  General  Washington  had,  very  shortly 
after  July  4,  1776,  a  force  of  20,000  men,  poorly  equipped, 
armed  and  disciplined.  They  manned,  among  other  works, 
the  following:  Grand  Battery  (still  called  The  Battery),  23 
guns :  Fort  George,  Bowling  Green,  2  guns ;  McDougall's 
Battery,  just  west  of  Trinity  Church,  4  guns;  Grenadier's  (or 
Circular)  Battery,  north  of  this  point,  5  guns ;  Jersey  Battery, 
near  this,  5  guns ;  Coenties'  Battery  on  the  East  River,  5  guns ; 
Waterbury's  Battery,  7  guns;  and  at  other  points  near  by,  all 
within  a  small  radius,  Thompson's  Battery,  9  guns ;  the  Inde- 
pendent Battery,  on  Centre  Street  and  breastworks  at  Peck, 
Beekman,  Burling,  Coenties  and  Old  Slips,  the  Coffee  House, 
Exchange,  Broad  Street  and  others,  besides  Brooklyn  Heights, 
Red  Hook,  and  a  line  of  works  from  Fort  Green  at  the  Walla- 
bout  (now  New  York  Navy  Yard)  to  Gowanus  Creek.  There 
was  also  a  "barrier"  or  fortified  line  across  the  Island  which 
crossed  the  Bowery  in  the  line  of  the  present  Grand  Street. 
This  was  begun  in  1775  and  strengthened  by  the  British  during 
their  occupation  of  the  City,  1776-1783. 

With  this  description  may  be  compared  a  letter  from  Peter 

*  Fort  Stirling  was  situated  on  Brooklyn  Heights,  near  the  present 
Montagu  Street.  Lord  Stirling,  born  in  New  York,  was  heir  to  a  Scotch 
title.  He  married  the  daughter  of  Philip  Livingston.  He  was  Colonel 
of  the  1st  New  Jersey  Regiment  of  Militia  and  after  the  Battle  of  Long 
Island  received  the  commission  of  Major  General  from  the  Continental 
Congress. 

42 


ENGLISH    COLONIAL   AND   REVOLUTIONARY    PERIOD 

Elting  to  Capt.  Richard  Varick  under  date  of  30th  Jul}',  1776, 
in  which  he  says : 

"You  would  be  surprised  to  see  what  Number  of  Empty 
houses  there  are  in  this  place  Verry  few  of  the  inhabitants 
Remain  in  town  that  are  not  ingaged  in  the  Service. 
*  *  *  *  Great  preparations  are  making  here  With  Shiver 
de  freeses  and  Vessels  to  stop  up  the  Channel  &  sundry 
fire  ships  preparing  two  Brigs  are  Ready,  something  great 
will  Be  attempted  soon  five  or  seven  Rogallies  are  already 
Come  down  from  the  Eastward  *  '"''  *  the  fleet  Remains 
Verry  Quiet  But  the  men  of  the  two  menvvar  up  the 
River  have  a  small  brush  Once  in  a  While  with  our 
Guards  long  the  River." 

The  reader  who  needs  a  translation  of  some  of  the  terms 
used  in  this  letter  for  the  information  of  Captain  Varick  will 
find  it  in  the  Memoirs  of  ]\Iajor  General  William  Heath,  who 
notes  therein,  on  the  next  day  after,  August  ist,  that  thirty 
British  sail  have  arrived  at  the  Hook  and  that  three  or  more 
row-galHes  have  gone  up  the  Hudson,  and  further,  that  in 
bringing  the  hulks,  cheveux  de  frise,  &c.,  round  from  the 
East  River  to  the  Hudson  one  sloop  was  sunk  between  Gover- 
nor's Island  and  the  Grand  Battery. 

General  Putnam  arrived  in  New  York  on  April  4th,  1776, 
and  wrote  to  the  President  of  Congress ; 

"After  getting  the  works  in  such  forwardness  as  will  be 
prudent  to  leave  I  propose  immediately  to  take  possession  of 
Governor's  Island  which  I  think  a  very  important  Post."  The 
works  in  June  mounted  four  32  and  four  18  pdrs. 

On  April  9th  Colonel  Silliman  of  Connecticut  wrote  to  his 
wife:  "Last  evening  draughts  were  made  from  a  number  of 
Regiments  here,  mine  among  the  rest,  to  the  number  of  1000 
men.  With  these  and  a  proper  number  of  officers  Gen'l.  Put- 
nam at  candle  lighting  embarked  on  Board  of  a  number  of 
vessels  with  a  large  Number  of  intrenching  tools  and  went 
directly  on  *  *  *  Nutten  Island  where  they  have  been  in- 
trenching all  night  *  *  *  and  have  got  a  good  Breast  work 
there  raised  which  will  cover  them  from  the  fire  of  the  Ships." 

The  "New  York  Gazette"  announces  that  on  "Monday  night 

43 


HISTORY   OF   GOVERNOR  S    ISLAND 

looo  Continental  troops  stationed  here  went  over  and  took 
possession  of  Governor's  Island  and  began  to  fortify  it." 

General  Putnam  lived  at  this  time  in  No.  i,  Broadway, 
Bowling  Green,  in  a  house  called  the  Kennedy  House.  Since 
1643  ^^h'  three  houses  have  occupied  this  site.  The  present 
one  is  called  the  Washington  Building  on  account  of  the  fact 
that  General  Washington  frequently  visited  the  original  Ken- 
nedy House  on  the  same  site. 

Col.  Wm.  Douglas  in  a  letter  to  his  wife,  Northford,  Conn., 
dated  N.  York  Aug'st  31,  1776,  says: 

"We  have  evacuated  Governor's  Island  where  we  have  lost 
some  cannon.  They  fired  smartly  from  Fort  Stirling  yester- 
day at  our  boats  passing  from  Governor's  Island." 

In  thinking  of  an  historical  period  far  removed  from  our 
own  time  one  is  apt  to  have  in  mind  a  general  impression  or 
composite  picture  of  the  whole  in  which  unknown  details  are 
summoned  up  by  the  imagination  to  form  a  confused  image 
of  the  shadowy  Past.  This  is  unsatisfactory  at  best  and  in 
order  to  make  more  clear  to  the  reader  the  actual  state  of 
affairs  at  this  time  in  the  history  of  our  City  and  Island,  when 
Putnam  and  his  men  came  over  in  all  haste  at  candle  lighting 
to  fortify  against  the  British  attack,  an  extract  follows  from 
Lamb's  History  of  New  York.  With  its  aid  one  seems  to  live 
in  the  scenes  of  war  preparation  it  so  admirably  illuminates. 
"New  York  was  one  of  the  busiest  spots  on  the  Western  Conti- 
nent just  now.  Men  were  working  night  and  day  on  the  forts, 
troops  were  coming  in  from  all  quarters  of  the  compass  in  the 
most  picturesque  and  greatest  variety  of  costume.  The  old 
red  coats  used  in  the  French  War  had  been  brought  from  the 
garrets  and  turned  to  account  in  Connecticut.  In  juxtaposi- 
tion with  the  tow  colored  frocks  worn  by  her  volunteers 
appeared  every  now  and  then  a  dingy  regimental  of  scarlet 
with  a  tarnished  three-cornered  laced  hat.  Some  of  the  Mary- 
landers  wore  green  hunting  shirts  with  leggings  to  match. 
Troops  came  from  Delaware  in  dark  blue  coats  with  red  fac- 
ings. Some  of  the  New  Jersey  riflemen  were  in  short  red 
coats  and   striped  trousers;   others   in   short   blue  coats,  old 

44 


ENGLISH    COLONIAL   AND   REVOLUTIONARY    PERIOD 

leather  breeches,  hght  bkie  stockings,  shoes  with  brass  buckles 
and  wool  hats  bound  with  yellow.  The  Pennsylvania  Regi- 
ments were  in  all  the  colours  of  the  rainbow — 'brown  coats 
faced  with  buff,  blue  coats  faced  with  red,  brown  coats 
faced  with  white  and  studded  with  great  pewter  buttons,  buck- 
skin breeches  and  black  cocked  hats  with  white  tape  bindings, 
also  blue  coats  faced  with  white.  The  Virginians  wore  white 
smock-frocks  furbelowcd  with  ruffles  at  the  neck,  elbows  and 
wrist,  black  stocks,  hair  in  queues  and  round-topped  broad- 
brimmed  black  hats.  A  little  later  the  Light  Dragoons  were 
uniformed  in  blue  coats  faced  with  red  or  in  brown  coats  faced 
with  green. 

The  Washington  Guards  wore  blue  coats  faced  with  buff, 
red  waist  coats,  buckskin  breeches,  black  felt  hats  bound  with 
white  tape  and  bayonets  with  belts  of  white.  Hunting  shirts, 
the  'moral  aversion  of  the  Red-coat,'  with  breeches  of  the  same 
cloth  as  the  shirts  gaiter  fashion  about  the  legs  were  seen  on 
every  side,  and  being  convenient  garments  for  campaigning 
were  soon  adopted  by  the  British  themselves.  This  was  the 
origin  of  the  modern  trouser  or  pantaloon." 

Of  such  composition  was  the  force  under  General  Putnam 
busy  in  throwing  up  the  breastworks  on  Governor's  Island. 
We  can  imagine  the  feverish  haste  of  the  day  and  night  fortifi- 
cation work,  the  clumsiness  of  the  hunters,  the  lack  of  disci- 
pline among  the  farmer  boys,  the  fatigue  of  the  volunteers 
from  the  counting-house.  We  can  well  believe  many  brown 
coats  with  their  great  pewter  buttons  were  cast  aside  when  the 
pick  and  shovel  were  taken  up  and  that  three-cornered  hats 
and  ruffles  at  the  neck,  elbows  and  wrist  fared  badly  in  the 
trenches.  These  men  had  coats  of  many  colours,  but  their 
hearts  were  one  for  union  and  defence.  Our  admiration  and 
gratitude  must  be  theirs  as  their  heritage  is  ours. 

We  read  further  in  Lamb's  interesting  account :     "The  scene 
was  like  one  vast  bee  hive.     Soldiers  and  civilians  ran  hither 
and  thither  in  the  performance  of  some  exacting  duty.     Aside* 
from  the  numerous  fortifications  and  batteries  in  and  around 
New  York,  on  Governor's  Island  and  Long  Island,  barricades 

45 


HISTORY  OF  GOVERNOR  S   ISLAND 

were  thrown  np  in  every  street  leading  to  the  water,  chiefly  of 
mahogany  logs  taken  from  West  India  cargoes.  City  Hall 
Park  was  almost  entirely  enclosed,  Broadway  was  obstructed 
in  front  of  St.  Paul's  Chapel,  a  barrier  rose  at  the  head  of 
Vesey  Street,  another  at  the  head  of  Barclay,  one  at  the  head 
of  Murray  Street,  and  many  others — at  Centre  St.,  Frankfort 
and  Chatham  Streets  and  an  angular  defence  where  the 
Tribune  Buildinsf  now  stands." 


Trinity  Church  was  the  old  Royalist  Parish  of  1696.  The 
citizens,  accustomed  as  they  were  and  had  been  for  three- 
quarters  of  a  century  to  prayers  in  the  Parish  Church  for  the 
King  and  Royal  Family,  demanded  however  that  they  should 
now  cease. 

The  Reverend  Charles  Inglis,  the  Rector,  was  insulted 
wherever  he  went  in  the  streets  and  finally  his  life  was  threat- 
ened if  he  did  not  desist  from  using  the  liturgy  according  to 
the  text.  To  officiate  publicly  and  abstain  from  the  mention  of 
England's  monarch  in  his  supplications  would  be  to  violate 
his  oath  and  the  dictates  of  his  conscience.  His  embarrassment 
was  very  great.  One  Sunday  morning  a  company  of  150 
soldiers  marched  into  the  church  with  drums  beating  and  pipes 
playing  and  bayonets  glistening  on  their  loaded  guns.  The 
congregation  was  panic  stricken  and  women  fainted. 

It  was  supposed  that  if  the  Rector  should  read  the  collects 
for  the  King  and  Royal  Family  he  would  be  shot  in  the  sacred 
desk.  But  he  went  on  'boldly  to  the  end,  omitting  no  portion 
of  the  service,  and  although  there  were  restless  and  hostile 
demonstrations  he  escaped  injury. 

In  a  private  letter  to  Peter  Van  Schaack,  23d  February, 
1776,  two  months  before  General  Putnam  began  the  works  on 
Governor's  Island,  Frederick  Rhinelander  indicates  the  feel- 
ing of  alarm  in  the  City  due  to  the  arrival  of  American  troops 
in  force,  when  he  says:  *'To  see  the  vast  number  of  houses 
shut  up  one  would  think  the  City  almost  evacuated.  Women 
and  children  are  scarcely  seen  in  the  streets." 

In  a  note  of  the  same  period  we  read:     "Friday,  Sept.  13, 

46 


ENGLISH    COLONIAL  AND   REVOLUTIONARY   PERIOD 

1776.  In  the  afternoon  some  Men  of  War  went  up  the  East 
River;  the  few  cannons  left  fired  on  the  ships  which  caused 
that  they  fired  back  from  Long  Island  and  Governor's  Island, 
and  very  smartly." 

This  was  shortly  after  the  Battle  of  Long  Island,  August 
27,  1776,  the  "day  that  though  so  full  of  sorrow  for  the  Ameri- 
cans, shed  so  little  glory  on  British  arms."  Washington  had 
20,000  troops ;  Prescott's  and  Nixon's  Regiments  were  sta- 
tioned on  Governor's  Island.  Lord  Howe  sailed  up  the  Bay 
and  anchored  near  the  Island,  whereupon  our  troops  withdrew 
to  the  mainland,  sustaining  only  one  injury,  a  soldier  wounded 
as  he  was  embarking,  by  a  ball  from  the  British  man-of-war. 

Thomas  Jones,  a  staunch  Tory,  Justice  of  the  Peace  for  tlie 
Province,  writes  as  follows:  "Sept.,  1776.  The  rebels  in 
their  hurry  upon  leaving  Long  Island  left  the  Garrison  upon 
Nutten  Island  (which  they  had  strongly  fortified)  consisting 
of  2,000  men,  40  pieces  of  heavy  cannon,  military  stores  and 
provisions  in  abundance  without  the  least  means  of  quitting 
the  Island.  The  Royal  Army  consisted  of  near  30,000  men 
******  yet  no  steps  were  taken  to  make  prisoners  of  the 
garrison  and  get  possession  of  the  forts,  stores,  artillery  and 
provisions. 

In  the  evening  of  the  same  day  (unaccountable  as  it  is)  a 
detachment  of  the  rebel  Army  went  from  New  York  to  Nutten 
Island  with  a  number  of  boats  and  carried  off  the  troops,  the 
stores,  artillery  and  provisions.  *  *  *  *  *  *" 

Had  Lord  Howe  taken  his  fleet  up  the  East  River  on  the 
day  of  the  action  upon  Long  Island  and  the  River  been  lined 
with  the  Ships  from  Governor's  Island  to  Hellgate,  "not  a 
rebel  would  have  escaped  from  Long  Island.  lUit  this  was 
not  done,  and  why  it  was  not  done,  let  the  brothers  Howe  tell." 

A  more  detailed  account  of  this  action  is  found  in  a  con- 
temporary note  by  a  Royalist:  "In  the  evening  of  the  27th  of 
August  the  army  (British)  encamped  in  front  of  the  enemy's 
works.  On  the  28th  at  night  they  broke  ground  600  yards 
from  a  redoubt  upon  their  left  and  on  the  29th  at  night  the 
Rebels  evacuated  their  intrenchments  and  Red  Hook  (Brook- 

47 


HISTORY  OF  GOVERNOR  S   ISLAND 

lyn  opposite  Governor's  Island)  with  the  utmost  silence  and 
quitted  Governor's  Island  the  following  evening,  leaving  their 
cannon  and  a  quantity  of  stores  in  the  works. 

At  daybreak  on  the  30th  their  flight  was  discovered.  The 
piquets  of  the  line  took  possession  and  those  most  advanced 
reached  the  shore  opposite  New  York  as  their  rear  guard  was 
going  over  and  fired  some  shot  among  them. 

Admiral  Howe  at  this  time  sent  up  four  ships  which  an- 
chored about  two  miles  below  the  Island  and  kept  up  a  most 
tremendous  fire  against  the  rebel  fortifications  there." 

Cannon  balls  are  frequently  dug  up  on  the  Island,  as  in 
making  the  foundations  for  the  new  Chapel  in  1905,  in  laying 
the  water  mains  across  the  parade  and  in  digging  trenches 
for  telephone  cables.  In  fact,  digging  of  any  considerable 
amount  always  discloses  old  cannon  balls  which  are  be- 
lieved to  be,  or  some  of  them  at  least,  from  this  bombardment. 

The  British  forces  under  General  Howe  and  Admiral  Howe 
seized  Governor's  Island  shortly  after  this  and  occupied  it  until 
the  evacuation  of  New  York  in  1783. 

The  Battle  of  Long  Island  occurred  on  August  27th.  Wash- 
ington called  a  Council  of  War  on  September  12th,  which  de- 
cided to  evacuate  the  City.  On  September  15th  the  British 
occupied  the  City.  "Once  more,"  says  Jenkins  in  "The  Great- 
est Street  in  the  World,"  "the  banner  of  Great  Britain  flew 
over  the  ramparts  of  the  Fort,  while  the  parade  was  trodden  by 
men  in  the  red  coats  of  the  English,  the  kilts  of  the  Highlanders 
and  the  green  coats  of  General  Gage's  men.  *  *  *  *  They  all 
departed  forever  on  November  25th,  1783,  when  the  American 
Army  of  occupation  resumed  possession  of  the  City  and  Fort 
and  flung  its  starry  banner  to  the  breeze."  Botta,  writing  of 
the  action  of  the  retreat  after  the  Battle  of  Long  Island,  says : 
"Whoever  will  attend  to  all  the  details  of  this  retreat  will 
easily  believe  that  no  military  operation  was  ever  conducted 
with  more  ability  or  prudence."  He  might  have  added  that 
arms,  ammunition  and  stores  were  never  taken  away  from 
their  victorious  captors  by  the  defeated  with  more  skill  and 
impudence. 


ENGLISH    COLONIAL   AND    REVOLUTIONARY   PERIOD 

The  American  forces  at  this  time  were  not  able  to  hold  New 
York,  as  the  following  letter  from  the  highest  authority  indi- 
cates : 

8th  September,  1776. 
That  the  enemy  mean  to  winter  in  New  York,  there  can 
be  no  doubt;  that  they  can  drive  us  out  is  equally  clear. 
Nothing  seems  to  remain  but  to  determine  the  time  of 
their  taking  possession.  G.  Washington. 

Whereupon  Congress  resolved  that  the  President  should 
inform  General  Washington  it  was  by  no  means  the  sense  of 
Congress  in  their  resolves  of  the  3rd  instant  respecting  New 
York  that  the  Army  or  any  part  of  it  should  remain  in  that 
City  a  moment  longer  than  he  should  consider  proper. 

Governor's  Island  remained  in  the  possession  of  the  British 
troops,  who  fortified  it  heavily,  from  1776  until  the  restoration 
of  peace  in  1783. 

The  following  extracts  from  "Revolutionary  Papers"  (New 
York  Historical  Society)  throw  light  upon  the  activities  of  the 
British  during  their  occupation  of  Governor's  Island. 

In  1779,  Gen'l.  Patterson,  the  English  Commandant,  wrote 
to  the  Lord  Townshend  that  "he  is  repairing  the  ruined  forti- 
fications and  batteries  erected  by  the  Rebels  on  Governor's 
Island.  We  secured  by  public  appeal  the  services  of  500  citi- 
zens, a  great  many  of  them  merchants  and  shopkeepers,  who 
with  great  cheerfulness  labored  at  the  fortifications  and  would 
accept  no  pay.  Those  who  required  pay  received  ten  shillings 
and  rations  per  day." 

We  have  little  information  regarding  the  period  of  occupa- 
tion by  the  British.  The  following  letters  and  orders  are  of 
interest  and  value  in  throwing  light  upon  this  era  of  the 
Island's  history: 

To  Admiral  Arbuthnot: 

Major  General  Pattison  presents  his  Compliments  to 
Admiral  Arbuthnot  and  is  justly  sensible  of  his  kind  dis- 
position to  contribute  to  the  Comfort  of  the  Army  and 
*****  the  Sick  of  the  Troops  will  be  removed  to 
Governor's  Island  to-morrow. 

New  York,  Sept.  i,  1779. 

49 


HISTORY  OF  governor's  ISLAND 

An  order  of  Sept.  29,  1779,  directs  that  by  orders  of  Major 
General  Pattison  a  "daily  allowance  of  provisions,  Rum  and 
Spruce  Beer  be  issued  to  300  laborers  employed  on  the  King's 
works  on  Governor's  Island  and  that  tents,  blankets,  camp 
kettles,  fuel  and  boats  be  ready  at  6  o'clock  in  the  morning  at 
White  Hall." 

To  Major  Andr^ 

New  York,  Oct,  4,  1779. 
Sir: 

I  am  directed  by  Major  Gen'l.  Pattison  to  acquaint  you 
that  *  *  he  has  deferred  giving  orders  for  removing 
Lieut.  Col.  Buskirk's  Battalion  to  Governor's  Island 
till  His  Excellency  the  Commander-in-Chief's  Pleasure 
shall  be  known.  *  *  *  *  /^g  there  are  150  of  Lowes- 
berg's  Regiment  returning  from  sea,  *  *  *  the  greater 
part  of  Buskirk's  Battalion  might  be  sent  to  Governor's 
Island. 

Gen'l.  Pattison  therefore  requests  that  you  will  take 
His  Excellency's  Commands.     I  am,  etc. 

Major  Andre  Step.  P.  A\t)e, 

A.  D.  C. 


To  Captain  Mercer, 

New  York,  December  2,  1779. 
Sir: — 

I  am  directed  by  Major  Gen'l  Pattison  to  signify  to 
you  that  it  is  indispensably  necessary  that  Guard  should 
be  on  Governor's  Island  for  the  protection  of  the  Bastions, 
etc.,  the  Guns  being  at  present  exposed  to  be  spiked  every 
night.  He  desires  that  a  Guard  Room  sufficient  to  contain 
20  men  may  be  erected  there  and  that  you  will  inform  him 
when  it  is  ready. 

I  have,  etc. 
,  Capt.  Mercer  S.  P.  A. 

Com'dg.  Eng'r.  (Step.  P.  Ayde) 

As  a  state  of  alarm  among  the  British  is  disclosed  in  the 
foregoing  order  of  1779,  so  the  dawn  of  peace  is  suggested  in 
the  following  report  from  General  Heath : 

50 


english  colonial  and  revolutionary  period 

Headquarters 
Continental  Village,  Sept.  23rd,  1781. 

To  Governor  Clinton, 
Sir: — 

I  am  honoured  by  yours  of  the  22d.  *  *  *  *  An 
account  from  Long  Island  says  a  74  gun  ship  was  taken 
and  that  three  were  dismasted.  The  greatest  part  of  the 
troops  with  Governor  Chnton  are  embarked. 

All  the  heavy  cannon  both  of  the  Grand  Battery  and  of 
Governor's  Island  have  been  taken  on  board  the  ships. 

W.  Heath, 

Major  General. 

There  are  few  records  known  to  exist  during  the  intervening 
years  relative  to  Governor's  Island.  The  war  ceased  in  1783 
and  from  the  Clinton  AISS.  the  following  orders  are  taken: 

Amphion,  off  New  York, 

25th  November  1783. 
Governor  Clinton. 
Sir: — 

I  have  given  orders  that  all  the  Buildings  now  re- 
maining upon  Governor's  Island  shall  be  left  untouched, 
whenever  I  am  able  to  leave.     I  am,  sir,  your  most 
Obed't  humble  servt. 

(Admiral)  Rob't.  Digby 


Governor's  Island, 
Dec.  3rd.  1783. 

7  A.  M. 

Sir: — 

Having  received  orders  from  Rear  Admiral  Digby  to 
withdraw  the  Guard  together  with  the  whole  Naval  Hos- 
pital from  this  Island  I  acquaint  you  Excellency  that  at 
the  hour  of  eleven  a.  m.  this  day  the  Guard  together  with 

the  Naval  Hospital  will  be  withdrawn  from  tlie  Island. 
****** 

I  am  also  desired  to  inform  your  Excellency  that  the 
only  property  disposed  of  belonging  to  Government  on 
Governor's  Island  are  the  hulls  of  two  I5rigantines  hauled 
up  on  each  side  of  the  wharf. 

I  shall  do  myself  the  honour  to  inclose  for  your  Excel- 

51 


HISTORY   OF   GOVERNOR  S   ISLAND 

lency's  better  information  a  list  of  the  different  buildings 
regularly  numbered  with  the  keys  to  the  person  you  shall 
think  it  fit  to  take  charge  of  them  from  Lieutenant  Gra- 
ham. 

I  have  the  honour  to  be  your  Excellency's  most  obed't 
and  most  humble  serv't 

James  Duncan, 
Capt.  in  the  Navy  etc. 
To  His  Excellency 

Governor  Clinton  etc.  etc. 
State  of  New  York. 

The  descriptive  list  includes  among  other  buildings,  etc., 
a  Captain's  and  Lieutenant's  Barracks  and  Kitchens,  a  guard 
house,  a  convalescent  hospital,  a  barn,  a  gardener's  house,  all 
of  which  have  long  since  disappeared.* 

With  the  close  of  the  Revolution  in  1783  the  American  com- 
mand was  reestablished  on  Governor's  Island  and  the  British 
works  were  occupied.  That  the  young  Republic  was  mindful 
of  its  dignity  is  shown  by  an  order  from  the  President  through 
the  Secretary  of  War  dated  Nov.  18,  1794,  stating  that  the 
Secretary  of  War  Knox  informs  the  Ofificer  Commanding  upon 
Governor's  Island  that  the  Minister  of  the  French  Republic 
has  represented  that  the  French  frigate  "Semillante"  had 
saluted  the  flag  with  fifteen  guns  and  that  the  fort  had  not  re- 
plied and  that  the  President  of  the  United  States  wishes  the 
Commanding  Officer  immediately  to  fix  a  time  when  he  would 
fire  the  Federal  Salute  of  Fifteen  guns. 

On  April  19,  1795,  Alex.  Thompson,  Capt.  Corps,  of  Ar- 
tillerists and  Engineers  respectfully  reports  to  Governor 
Clinton  that  the  French  man-of-war  has  left  the  North  River 
and  that  at  this  time  the  fifteen  gun  salute  was  duly  delivered 
from  the  battery  which  he  commands  on  the  Island. 

Another  bit  of  correspondence  on  the  subject  of  Salutes  is 
interesting  to  compare  with  our  modern  telegraph-telephone- 
quick-order-fixed-ammunition  methods. 

*  This  guard  house  is  probably  the  one  mentioned  in  Major  General 
Pattison's  Orders  (p.  50),  as  that  was  evidently  of  hasty  construction. 
The  Convalescent  Hospital  was  part  of  the  British  Naval  Hospital 
(v.  p.  si). 

52 


english  colonial  and  revolutionary  period 

""  Governor's  Island, 

Oct.  II,  1794. 
To  His  Excellency. 

Sir: 

Yesterday  morning  Admiral  Murra  sent  a  Lieutenant 
to  this  Island"  to  learn  from  me  as  a  commanding  officer 
whether  it  would  be  proper  or  whetlier  it  had  been  custom- 
ary to  salute  the  Flag  of  the  United  States  at  such  a  dis- 
tance and  what  number  of  guns  would  be  given.  In  an- 
swer to  his  salute,  I  informed  the  Lieutenant  that  the 
Admiral  lay  at  such  a  Distance  I  thought  it  Improper  to 
Salute,  but  should  it  so  happen  that  the  Admiral  did  Come 
Up  within  I  mile  in  a  S.  Direction  of  this  Island  accord- 
ing to  Your  Excellency's  orders,  I  should  Return  his 
Salute.  But  as  to  Stipulate  for  the  No.  of  Guns  it  was 
out  of  my  power,  But  that  our  Natl.  Salute  was  13  at 
present. 

Agreeable  to  your  Excellency's  Orders  sometime  ago, 
I  shall  attend  to  Returning  the  Salute  should  the  Admiral 
Come  Up.  Your  Excellence  will  please  to  understand 
that  Admiral  Murra  lays  at  the  watering  place  so  called 
here  Staten  Island. 

I  am  Yours  Excellency's 

Most  Obt.  and  Humble  servt. 
Corns.  R.  Sedam,* 

Captain  ist  Sub  Legion, 

On  February  28,  1794,  the  Committee  of  the  House  of  Con- 
gress directed  to  report  on  such  Harbour  forts  as  required  to 
be  put  in  a  proper  state  of  defence  made  a  report  in  relation 
to  Governor's  Island  stating  that  the  expense  of  constructing 
batteries,  embrasures  and  platforms  for  24  pieces  was  $1727.52; 

♦Spelled  also  "Suydam"  (Heitman).  The  Legion  of  the  United  States 
was  organized  March  5,  1792,  and  comprised  Infantry,  Dragoons  and 
Artillery.  It  consisted  of  four  Sub  Legions,  each  commanded  by  a  Lt. 
Colonel.  The  rst  Infantry  (1784)  formed  part  of  the  First  Sub  Legion. 
Nov.  I,  1796,  the  Legion  was  disbanded,  the  Infantry  of  the  ist,  2d,  3rd  and 
4th  Sub  Legions  becoming  respectively  the  ist,  2d,  3rd  and  4th  Regiments 
of  Infantry.  Two  companies  of  Light  Dragoons  were  also  formed  from 
The  Legion.  The  uniform  of  the  ist  Sub  Legion  was  white  binding  upon 
their  caps,  with  white  plumes  and  black  hair. 

53 


HISTORY   OF   GOVERNOR  S   ISLAND 

a  redoubt  for  embrasures,  $8io;  a  magazine,  $200;  a  block 
house  or  barracks,  $500. 

On  March  26,  1794,  Congress  appropriated  for  fortifications 
on  Governor's  Island  $150,000. 

This  expenditure  was  under  the  direction  of  George  Clinton, 
Mathew  Clarkson,  James  Watson,  Rich'd  Varick,  Nicholas 
Fish,  Ebenezer  Stevens  and  A.  Hammond. 

A  further  sum  of  $100,000  was  appropriated  on  April  6, 
1795,  to  complete  the  works  on  Governor's  and  Ellis'  Islands. 

In  1797  $30,117  were  appropriated  for  the  Fort  now  known 
as  Fort  Jay.  Such  was  the  fear  of  French  invasion  that  the 
Professors  and  Students  of  Columbia  College  came  to  the 
Island  and  worked  with  shovels  and  barrows  to  complete  the 
work.  The  Garrison  at  this  time  consisted  of  one  Major,  one 
Captain,  one  Surgeon,  two  ist  Lieutenants,  one  cadet,  three 
Sergeants,  one  corporal,  four  musicians,  five  artificers  and  34 
privates. 

It  was  not  alone  at  this  period  that  Columbia  College  showed 
its  practical  patriotism.  Again,  in  the  war  of  181 2,  the  students 
assembled  on  Sept.  8,  1814,  and  worked  at  the  fort  in  Harlem, 
going  to  that  then  distant  part  of  the  City  by  steamboat. 

In  1799  $30,116  were  appropriated  for  the  work;  in  1800 
$20,124;  in  1801  $ic)>338. 

The  Secretary  of  War  had  reported  to  Congress  in  1794 
that  one  bastion  commanding  two  low  batteries  had  been  under- 
taken but  that  the  works,  being  only  sodded,  would  not  last 
long.  Later,  in  1796,  January  18,  he  reported  that  Gover- 
nor's Island  had  been  fortified  with  an  earthen  fort  of  two 
bastions  partly  lined  with  brick  masonry,  two  air  furnaces,  a 
large  powder  magazine  and  barracks. 

From  1794-1797  Quarantine  was  located  here. 

The  building  of  Castle  Williams,  and  especially  of  Fort  Jay, 
which  was  forty  years  in  construction  (1794-1833)  and  had 
many  periods,  is  difficult  to  describe  smoothly  in  connection 
with  other  events  and  the  reader's  indulgence  is  asked  for  such 
lack  of  sequence  or  repetition  as  he  may  observe. 

In  1801  Fort  Jay  had  a  'Tiandsome  gateway  with  a  corps  de 

54 


S   o 


O     O      I 


H  2 


ENGLISH    COLONIAL   AND    REVOLUTIONARY   PERIOD 

garde  drawbridge."  In  connection  with  this  gateway  there  is  a 
pretty  legend  which,  though  persistent,  cannot  be  verified  as  to 
time  or  person.  The  story  is  that  a  prisoner  who  was  a  stone- 
cutter by  trade  was  detailed  to  make  the  fine  carving  which 
adorns  the  gateway.  During  the  progress  of  the  work  one 
day  the  commanding  officer's  little  daughter  stood  under  the 
gateway  with  the  stonecutter  who  was  inspecting  his  work 
from  below.  Just  then  a  heavy  block  of  stone  or  a  stone 
cannon  ball  fell  and  would  have  killed  the  child,  but  the 
prisoner,  too  late  to  pull  her  aside,  interposed  his  own  body 
and  saved  her  life  with  serious  injury  to  himself.  His  re- 
ward for  the  gallant  act  was  pardon.  If  the  story  cannot  be 
proved,  neither  can  it  be  disproved,  and  it  has  been  told  long 
enough  to  entitle  it  to  a  respectful  hearing  and  a  willing  accept- 
ance. 

In  the  centre  of  the  Fort  Jay  of  1801  was  a  square  block- 
house of  timber  two  stories  high,  but  probably  not  cannon- 
proof,  with  a  well  under  it.  This  is  probably  the  block  house 
for  which  Congress  appropriated  $500  in  1794.  As  for  the 
well,  as  late  as  1905  the  remains  of  the  superstructure  of  the 
pump  remained  in  situ,  requiring  everyone  who  crossed  the 
quadrangle  to  make  a  detour.  It  has  lately  been  removed,  but 
its  situation  in  the  crosswalks  is  plainly  indicated.  No  further 
improvements  were  made  till  1806,  when  Fort  Jay  was  de- 
molished, except  the  walled  counterscarp,  the  gate,  sally  port, 
magazine  and  two  barracks.  All  the  rest  of  the  works  was 
removed  to  allow  of  more  durable  material  to  be  used  in  con- 
struction. 

On  the  site  of  old  Fort  Jay  was  erected  a  new  Fort  with  the 
name  changed  to  Fort  Columbus,  which  name  was  retained 
until  1904  when  by  orders  of  the  War  Department  it  was 
re-named  Fort  Jay.  The  new  fortification  consisted  of  an  en- 
closed pentagonal  work  with  four  bastions  of  masonry  to  hold 
100  guns.  On  three  of  its  sides  it  was  built  the  same  as  Fort 
Jay  the  elder  with  the  addition  of  14  feet  on  each  side ;  and  on 
the  north  wall  of  a  ravelin  with  two  retired  casemated  flanks. 
Guns  to  command  the  (dry)  moat  were  located  here.     Their 

55 


HISTORY    OF   GOVERNOR  S   ISLAND 

casemates  are  now  bricked  up.  The  minutes  of  the  Military 
and  Philosophical  Society  of  West  Point  (1808)  state  that  two 
detached  batteries  were  built  about  this  period,  one  mounting 
four  18  pdrs.  and  one  8  in.  French  mortar,  with  platforms  for 
four  others;  and  the  other,  ten  pieces,  18  and  24  pdrs.  The 
parapet  had  52  emhrasures  and  it  would  take  1,000  men  to  man 
the  parapet.     This  work  was  completed  in  1809. 

Castle  Williams  was  begun  in  1807  and  completed  in  181 1, 
as  the  crumbling  dates  in  the  stone  over  the  gateway  set  forth. 
It  was  designed  and  built  by  Lieut. -Colonel  Jonathan  Williams, 
Engineer  Corps.  The  material  of  the  castle  is  Newark  red 
sandstone.  It  rests  on  a  bed  of  rock  at  the  extreme  north- 
westernly  point  of  the  Island.  In  form  it  is  3/5  of  a  circle, 
200  feet  in  diameter.  The  walls  are  40  feet  in  height,  case- 
mated  with  bomb-proof  arches  for  2  tiers  of  guns.  Guns  were 
also  mounted  upon  the  top,  to  which  access  was  had  by  two  in- 
terior stone  turret  staircases.  The  walls  are  8  feet  thick  on  the 
lower  tier  and  seven  feet  on  the  upper  tier.  It  had  on  each 
side  of  the  gate  on  the  inside  a  stone  building.  One  of  these 
was  used  for  a  powder  magazine  and  one  for  solitary  con- 
finement at  some  period.  There  is  a  walk  for  sentry  duty  in 
the  thickness  of  the  wall  over  the  main  gate  and  a  picturesque 
stone  sentry  box  at  the  angle. 

The  stone  buildings  referred  to  here  have  been  taken  down 
(1912-13)  and  the  material  is  being  used  for  the  building  of  a 
two-story  structure  on  the  same  site.  The  lower  story  contains 
a  guard  house  and  the  upper  story  rooms  for  court  martial 
and  other  purposes.  It  is  an  admirable  re-arrangement,  giv- 
ing at  once  much  needed  facilities  for  garrison  administration 
and  increasing  the  military  appearance  of  the  interior  court  of 
the  Castle. 

For  many  years  Castle  Williams  has  been  used  as  a  military 
prison.  During  the  Civil  War  it  is  said  1500  prisoners  were 
confined  in  the  Castle  at  one  time.  All  the  tiers  were  used  for 
the  prisoners  and  a  large  cooking  house  was  erected  in  the 
middle  of  the  court.  A  stockade  was  built  in  front  of  the  gate 
and  strongly  guarded.     The  reveille  gun  and  saluting  battery 

56 


ENGLISH    COLONIAL   AND   REVOLUTIONARY    PERIOD 

are  mounted  on  the  top  of  the  castle  and  a  fog  bell  and  siren 
are  a  part  of  its  equipment. 

A  passageway  connected  the  Castle  with  the  main  fort  in  the 
middle  of  the  Island.  Its  remains  are  clearly  visible  to-day. 
What  is  left  of  the  way  extends  from  the  Fort  to  the  Post 
Hospital.  The  rest  of  it  was  destroyed  evidently  to  make  way 
for  modern  constructions  on  the  northern  edge  of  the  Island. 
A  large  tree  has  grown  up  in  this  passage. 

The  question  as  to  the  name  of  the  Castle  frequently  arising, 
it  may  be  of  interest  to  quote  the  order  on  the  subject: 

1ST  Indorsement, 
II I 1709 

WAR  DEPARTMENT, 

The  Military  Secretary's  Office, 

Washington,  March  20,  1906. 

In  a  letter  dated  New  York,  November  27,  18 10,  adi 
dressed  to  the  Secretary  of  War,  Colonel  Jonathan  Wil- 
liams of  the  Corps  of  Engineers  says :  "1  take  the  earliest 
opportunity  of  expressing  my  gratitude  for  the  high 
honour  conferred  upon  me  by  adding  my  name  to  the 
Castle  I  erected  on  the  west  point  of  Governor's  Island  in 
this  harbor." 

Accompanying  the  letter  referred  to  above  is  a  copy  of 
an  order  dated  Fort  Columbus,  24  November,  1810,  issued 
by  Colonel  Henry  P)urbeck,  commanding  Harbor  New 
York,  which  directs  that  "In  future  the  stone  tower  on 
this  Island  (by  the  approbation  of  the  Secretary  of  War ) 
will  bear  the  name  of  Castle  Williams,  in  honor  of  the 
commandant  of  the  United  States  Corps  of  Engineers  who 
designed  and  erected  it." 

E.  F.  L.\DD, 
Military  Secretary. 

The  earliest  designation  of  the  Castle  seems  to  have  been 
"The  Tower,"  as  in  the  order  above  quoted  and  also  in  the 
following,  issued  a  year  later: 

57 


HISTORY  OF  GOVERNOR  S   ISLAND 

Orders:  Fort  Columbus 

7th  Deer,  1811. 

The  practice  of  landing  and  leaving  boats  at  the  Tower 
is  improper.  In  addition  to  violation  of  orders,  it  gives 
a  facility  to  desertion :  boats  therefore  of  any  description 
are  prohibited  landing  at  or  near  Castle  Williams. 

By  order  of  Col.  Burbeck. 

C.  Van  Deventer, 
Lieut,  and  Acting  Adjutant, 

The  S.  W.  Battery,  built  at  the  lower  end  of  Manhattan  by 
Colonel  Jonathan  Williams,  was  called  Castle  Clinton  after 
May,  1812,  and  in  1823  its  name  was  changed  to  Castle 
Garden.  The  North  Battery  was  thrown  up  at  the  foot  of 
Hubert  Street,  and  Fort  Gansevort  at  the  foot  of  Gansevort 
Street,  while  on  the  Staten  Island  shore  were  Forts  Rich- 
mond, Tompkins  and  Hudson.  Opposite  was  Fort  Diamond 
(now  Fort  Lafayette).  These  four  forts  mounted  about  500 
guns. 

Other  early  military  defences  near  Governor's  Island  were 
Half  Moon  batteries  at  Coenties  Slip  and  at  the  water  gate  of 
Wall  Street,  now  occupied  by  the  O.  M.  Dept.  pier. 

There  were  also  defences  in  those  days  along  Wall  Street 
and  a  curtain  at  the  land  gate,  where  Trinity  Church  was 
built  in  1697.  These  fortifications  were  mounted  with  the 
miniature  guns  of  the  period,  known  as  demi-culverins, 
sakers  and  minions. 


CHAPTER   III. 
Period  of  the  War  of  1812. 

The  "Second  War  of  American  Independence"  found  us 
with  an  army  of  10,000  men,  maximum  limit,  composed  of  46 
regiments  of  infantry,  4  rifle  regiments,  an  artillery  corps,  a 
regiment  of  light  artillery  and  of  dragoons  and  an  engineer 
department.  It  is  interesting  to  notice  that  the  Infantry  regi- 
ments were  to  be  recruited  each  from  the  State  or  district 
assigned.  The  districts  were  numbered,  however,  not  named. 
The  farthest  west  were  the  "territories  of  Indiana,  Michigan, 
Illinois  and  Missouri."  The  district  in  which  Governor's 
Island  was  situated  was  designated  as  "New  York  from  the 
sea  to  the  Highlands  of  New  Jersey  except  that  part  of  the 
state  which  furnishes  the  ist  division  of  Militia." 

From  an  old  Garrison  Order  book  of  1810-11  are  taken  the 
few  extracts  following,  some  of  which  may  be  considered  ap- 
propriate to  a  chapter  on  the  War  of  1812  as  disclosing  pre- 
parations for  the  War.  Others  are  interesting  as  reminding 
us  of  the  fact  that  human  nature  and  Garrison  conditions  pre- 
sent the  same  difficulties  in  one  century  as  in  another.  Colonel 
Burbeck,  who  assumed  command  of  all  the  troops  in  New 
York  Harbour  in  1810,  shows  an  earnest  desire  in  his  orders 
to  preserve  order  and  to  promote  discipline  in  every  way. 

This  book  of  orders  is  almost  pathetic  in  its  simplicity.  It 
consists  of  a  number  of  sheets  of  paper,  yellow^brown  with 
age,  tied  together  with  red  tape  of  the  pattern  used  today, 
though  faded  to  a  lighter  shade.  The  penmanship  is  uniformly 
excellent  and  abounds  in  the  graceful  flourishes  characteristic 
of  the  period. 

They  are  all  signed  Justus,  Post  Adjt,  except  one  signed  by 
Lt  Van  De  Venter,  Actg  Adjt  and  one  of  18 12  by  Amos  Stod- 
dard, Majr  Comdg.  . 

Colonel  Burbeck  had  served  in  General  Knox's  Regiment, 
Continental  Artillery  and  other  Regiments  from  1775  to  1789, 

59 


HISTORY   OF   governor's   ISLAND 

and  in  the  Artillery  and  Engineers  to  1798.  Lieut.  Chris- 
topher Van  De  Venter  entered  the  U.  S.  Military  Academy 
from  New  York  in  1808,  and  Major  Stoddard,  Major  ist  Ar- 
tillery March,  181 2,  died  in  181 3  of  wounds  received  at  the 
siege  of  Fort  Meigs,  Ohio. 

We  learn  from  the  pages  of  this  hook  that  Colonel  Burbeck 
assumed  command  of  all  the  troops  in  the  Harbour  of  New 
York  on  the  17th  August,  1810,  and  issued,  among  other 
orders  from  Fort  Columbus,  several  showing  the  activity  of 
fortification  construction  work.  In  the  first  Garrison  order 
issued,  26th  August,  1910,  occurs  the  following:  *  *  * 

"All's  Well"  will  be  called  out  every  quarter  of  an  hour 
from  Tattoo  till  day  light,  beginning  at  No.  i  at  guard  house. 
All  the  other  sentinels  will  observe  to  answer  the  call  in  rota- 
tion, *  *  *  in  doing  which  they  will  observe  to  turn  their 
faces  towards  the  guard  house  that  they  may  be  the  more 
distinctly  heard  by  the  Sergt.  or  Corporal  of  the  guard  who 
will  pay  particular  attention  that  it  be  repeated  all  round." 

This  order,  dated  Fort  Columbus,  is  signed  "Justus  Post 
Adjt." 

Another  order  of  the  same  month  forbids  all  officers,  non- 
commissioned officers,  soldiers,  citizens  and  all  other  persons 
of  every  description  from  getting  upon  the  parapet,  and  also 
directs  the  Adjutant  to  sign  the  returns  for  the  extra  Liquor 
served  the  fatigue  men  employed  upon  the  public  works.  On 
Sept.  3d  it  was  ordered  that  only  those  prisoners  confined  in 
the  guard  house  who  had  been  sentenced  to  hard  labour  would 
be  indulged  in  the  privilege  of  their  ration  of  liquor,  but  that 
rations  retained  would  be  left  in  store  and  the  amount  thereof 
appropriated  to  furnish  articles  of  nourishment  for  the  sick 
of  the  Garrison.  An  order  of  1811  forbids  the  landing  of 
rum,  brandy,  gin,  spirits,  cordial  or  ardent  spirits  of  any  kind 
except  for  the  use  of  the  officers  of  the  Garrison  and  the  ration 
liquor  furnished  by  the  Contractor.  Another  states  that  "as 
the  smoaking  of  pipes  or  segars  in  the  open  air  is  both  danger- 
ous and  indecorous,"  it  is  strictly  forbidden  (except  in  quar- 
ters)  at  any  post  in  the  Harbour. 

60 


PERIOD   OF  THE   WAR   OF    l8l2 

Still  another  one,  regretting  that  "some  of  the  soldiers  of 
this  Garrison  had  so  far  abandoned  the  strict  principles  of 
honour  as  to  bear  the  stigma  of  a  black  eye  or  a  bruised  face," 
states  that  those  thus  disqualified  will  not  be  permitted  to  ap- 
pear on  parade  or  to  mount  their  guard,  but  will  be  obliged  to 
make  up  all  omitted  tours  of  guard  upon  the  cessation  of  such 
disqualification.  The  commanding  officers  of  Garrisons  and 
Companies  are  ordered  (August  5,  181 1)  never  to  sufifer  more 
than  two  men  to  be  absent  in  one  day  on  pass  or  furlough. 

On  a  military  map  of  the  Island  made  in  1857  cowsheds  are 
shown,  but  an  order  of  this  period  dated  4th  October,  18 10,  by 
Colonel  Burbeck  directs  that  "Swine  being  considered  a  nui- 
sance to  a  Garrison  and  improper  animals  to  range  or  be 
harbored,  after  those  which  now  belong  here  shall  have  been 
disposed  of,  none  will  be  suffered  to  be  landed  or  kept  upon 
the  Island, 

The  extracts  from  this  Garrison  order  book  will  close  with 
one  upon  a  more  serious  subject. 

Garrison  Orders. 

Fort  Columbus, 

23d  Novr.,  1810. 

The  sixteen  gun  Battery  being  now  completed  it  will  be 
appropriated  to  the  particular  use  of  firing  salutes  and  the 
old  Guard  will  hereafter  be  considered  the  party  to  per- 
form that  duty  *  *  *  under  the  immediate  direction  of 
Sergt  Campbell.  No  one  except  the  non-commissioned 
officers  will  go  into  the  Magazine  and  those  will  be  careful 
when  they  enter  it  to  leave  their  shoes  without  the  door. 

Of  the  period  of  181 2  on  Governor's  Island  we  learn  many 
interesting  details  through  the  courtesy  of  (the  late)  Brig. 
Genl.  T.  F.  Rodenbough,  who  has  allowed  the  author  to  quote 
from  the  original  MSS.  Garrison  order  book  of  1814-15.  This 
book,  formerly  the  property  of  General  Harvey  Brown,  was 
presented  to  the  Military  Service  Institution  by  Miss  Emily 

*  See  also  order  issued  the  following  day  (plate,  p.  65). 


HISTORY  OF  governor's   ISLAND 

Brown.  No  better  idea  of  the  social  manners  and  military 
usages  of  that  day  could  be  given  than  by  a  few  of  the  quota- 
tions from  this  voluminous  official  record,  which  the  author 
has  the  pleasure  of  doing.  These  orders  are  written  in  a  clear, 
beautiful  hand,  with  a  quill  pen,  and  show  a  careful  style  of 
literary  composition  sadly  lacking  in  these  days  of  typewriting 
haste. 

It  may  be  of  interest  in  this  connection  to  quote  the  Regula- 
tion concerning  stationery  for  the  Army  issued  (May  2,  1814) 
at  this  time : 

^  3|C  ^  3fC  5fC  JjC  ^ 

To  a  Major  General  as  much  stationery  as  necessary  for  the 
discharge  of  his  public  duties.  To  other  General  officers 
24  quires  of  paper  per  annum. 

To  a  Major  6  quires  of  paper  and  i  blank  book  per  annum. 
For  the  use  of  every  other  commanding  officer  2  quires  per 
annum  and  a  proportion  of  other  stationery  at  the  rate  of  50 
quills,  as  many  wafers  and  a  paper  of  ink  powder  to  each 
6  quires. 

The  orders  include  a  large  number  of  court  martial  cases 
with  charges  of  desertion,  absence  without  leave  and  disobedi- 
ence of  orders.  The  sentences  on  the  whole  appear  lenient, 
the  various  courts  evidently  being  actuated  by  a  desire  to 
temper  justice  with  mercy.  Others  are  of  necessity  severe, 
as  became  a  state  of  war. 

A  few  examples  are  given,  as  throwing  light  on  the  prac- 
tices of  the  day: 

Fort  Columbus,  May  10,  1814. 
Garrison  Orders. 

At  a  Garrison  Court  Martial  whereof  Lieut.  Bailey  was 
President,  convened  on  the  9th  inst.,  was  tried  the  fol- 
lowing offender, ,  a  private  in  Captn  Swett's 

Company,  charged  with  neglect  of  duty  in  leaving  his 
post,  stealing  whiskey  and  getting  two  of  his  guard  drunk 
while  on  post  on  the  morning  of  the  2d  May,  18 14,  to 
which  charge  the  prisoner  pleaded  not  guilty.  The  court 
found  the  prisoner  guilty  of  the  charge  and  sentenced  him 

62 


PERIOD  OF  THE   WAR  OF   l8l2 

to  be  confined  four  days  in  the  Black  Hole*  and  to  be 
drummed  off  the  Island. 

The  same  court  found  a  private  in  Captn 

Humphrey's  Company  guilty  of  suffering  a  patroling 
party  to  pass  into  the  South  Battery  without  demanding 
the  countersign,  being  himself  a  sentry  at  the  gate,  and  of 
making  use  of  abusive  language  to  the  Sergeant  of  the 
Guard,  and  sentenced  him  to  be  confined  three  days  in  the 
Black  Hole  on  bread  and  water  and  to  have  his  whiskey 
stopped  30  days. 

Apropos  of  the  stoppage  of  whiskey  imposed  in  this  and 
other  sentences,  it  may  be  mentioned  that  on  Dec.  8,  1830,  the 
issue  of  whiskey  was  by  G.  O.  commutated  for  cash  and  on 
Nov.  5,  1832,  this  money  allowance  for  whiskey  was  converted 
into  a  coffee  or  ration  allowance. 

The  Black  Hole  referred  to  in  the  orders  of  1814  is  believed 
from  indirect  references  in  other  parts  of  this  order  book  to 
have  been  in  the  present  Post  Headquarters  Building  (1913). 
An  order  of  Jan.  8,  181 5,  orders  the  officer  of  Police  to  have 
the  window  of  the  Black  Hole  stopped  up  and  well  secured 

that  Private    may  begin  his   10  days'   solitary 

confinement  therein. 

A  sentence  which  would  be  considered  to  day  "unusual,"  if 
not  "cruel,"  is  seen  in  the  following  order : 

Garrison  Orders. 

Fort  Columbus,  Aug.  13,  1814. 

A  Garrison  Court  Martial  will  convene  this  morning  at 
10  o'clock  A.  M.  for  the  trial  of  such  prisoners  as  may  be 
brought  before  it.  Captn  Bennete  will  preside.  The 
court  being  duly  sworn  in  the  presence  of  the  Prisoners 

proceeded  to  the  trial  of ,  a  private  in  Captn 

Swett's  Company  of  Artillery.  Charge,  theft ;  spcfn., 
stealing  a  watch  from  Private  Bernard.  Plea,  guilty. 
The  court  sentenced  him  to  be  drummed  once  up  and 
down  the  Parade  with  the  rogues'  march,  with  his  coat 
turned    and   the    word   thief   written   thereon    in    large 

*V.  Addendam,  page  175. 

63 


HISTORY   OF  GOVERNOR  S   ISLAND 

letters :  further,  that  he  stand  within  view  of  the  evening 
parade  each  day  for  one  week  with  his  coat  in  the  same 
manner,  except  when  on  guard  duty,  and  to  have  his 
whiskey  stopped  for  one  month. 

Another   order   of   this   character   is  noted   under   date  of 

Jan.  19,  181 5,  according  to  which  Corporal is  to  be 

"reduced  to  the  ranks  at  guard  mounting  when  his  knot  will  be 
taken  from  his  shoulder  on  parade  in  front  of  the  Battalion ;" 
and  Mary of  Captain  Watson's  Company  was  con- 
victed of  conveying  whiskey  to  a  Sentinel  on  post,  whereupon 
the  court  sentenced  her  "to  be  drummed  off  the  Island  im- 
mediately after  guard  mounting  and  never  to  be  suffered  to 
return." 

Another   order   of   the   same   period  orders   that   Corporal 

shall  have  his  knot  cut  from  his  shoulders  by  the 

smallest  drummer  in  the  Battalion. 

An  Execution  Order  follows: 


Garrison  Orders : 

Ft.  Columbus,  July  7,  1814. 

The  Troops  on  Governor's  Island  will  parade  tomorrow 
morning  at  half  past  11  o'clock  on  the  Grand  Parade  for 
the  purpose  of  witnessing  the  execution  of  the  prisoner 
sentenced  by  a  Gen'l  order  of  the  2d  inst.  to  be  shot  to 
death.  The  Troops  will  form  three  sides  of  a  square,  the 
Artillery  will  form  the  right :  left  flank  the  Infty ;  the  rear, 
the  execution  party  consisting  of  a  Sergeant  and  12  pri- 
vates which  will  parade  at  half  past  11  o'clock,  and  be 
placed  under  the  command  of  Lieut.  Farley,  Provost 
Marshal. 

The  guards  of  the  advanced  posts  will  leave  their 
entries  at  their  respective  posts  and  will  repair  to  the 
Parade  at  half  past  11  o'clock,  those  under  charge  of  the 
Provost  Marshal  will  join  the  execution  party  for  the 
purpose  of  escorting  the  Prisoner  to  the  place  of  execu- 
tion. The  execution  party  in  Divisions  preceded  by  the 
music  with  the  Provost  Marshal  at  their  head  will  march 
in   front  of  the   Prisoner,  the   music  playing   the  Dead* 

*  The  dirge  played  at  the  military  executions  of  this  period  was  "Roslyn 
Castle,"  with  muffled  drums. 

64 


PERIOD   OF   THE   WAR   OF    l8l2 

March :  the  guards  formed  in  divisions  will  march  in  rear 
of  the  Prisoner.  The  procession  will  enter  the  Square 
from  the  rear,  face  ten  paces  from  the  cofifin  placed  in  the 
center  upon  which  the  Prisoner  kneels.  By  a  signal  from 
the  Provost  Marshal  the  music  ceases,  tlie  signal  to  fire  is 
then  given  to  the  execution  party. 

By  order  of 

M.  SwETT,  Com'g. 

A  pleasing  incident  of  pax  inter  helium  is  discovered  in  an 
Artillery  order  of  Jan.  i,  1815,  when  Mars  unbends  for  the 
moment  and  in  the  presence  of  the  ladies  of  the  "Stocking, 
Hood  and  Mockason  Society"  removes  his  helmet  and  becomes 
amenable  to  the  softening  influence  of  woman's  sympathy. 
The  courtesies  of  the  day  are  well  illustrated  in  the  charming 
reply  of  the  gallant  commanding  officer. 

Artillery  orders.  Fort  Columbus,  Jan.  i,  1815. 

^:  ^:  ^:  ^c  ;)C  ^  ^  ^ 

Lieut.  Col.  House  has  received  the  following  communi- 
cation from  the  ladies  of  the  "Stocking,  Hood  and 
Mockason  Society  of  New  York,"  accompanied  with  46 
Hoods  and  46  prs.  of  mittens  to  be  presented  to  the  Sol- 
diers and  Sentinels  on  duty  at  the  several  Artillery  posts 
under  his  command : 

New  York,  Dec.  30,  1814. 
"Sir: 

(After  reciting  the  action  of  the  Society) 

The  Society  regrets  that  the  present  state  of  their  funds 
does  not  enable  them  to  do  more  for  those  whose  claims 
are  strengthened  by  every  consideration  of  Patriotism  and 
Gratitude. 

By  order  of  the  Board  of  Managers. 

CoL.  Hou.se.  N.  D.  S.  Bradish,  Sec. 

"This  Humane  and  pleasing  attention  to  the  wants  and 
privations  of  the  Soldier  from  a  Body  of  tiie  most  respect- 
able Ladies  of  New  York  cannot  fail  to  excite  in  the  minds 
of  every  individual  the  most  grateful  sensation,  and  to 
animate  in  his  bosom  a  peculiar  ardour  and  zeal  in  the 
performance  of  his  duty.     I  am  honored,  madam,  with 

65 


HISTORY  OF  GOVERNOR  S   ISLAND 

your  letter  of  the  30tli  ult.  with  46  Hoods  and  46  prs.  of 
mittens.  I  beg  leave,  madam,  to  assure  you  that  this 
flatering  attention  to  the  wants  and  privations  of  the  Sol- 
dier from  so  respectable  a  Body  of  Ladies  cannot  fail  to 
animate  every  bosom  with  a  degree  of  Chivalrick  ardour 
when  it  is  recollected  that  the  service  in  which  they  are 
engaged  is  the  defence  of  the  City  of  their  amiable  and 
virtuous  patronesses.  Accept,  madam,  for  yourself  and 
the  Society  the  assurances  of  respect  with  which  I  have 
the  honor  to  be, 

Yr.  most  obt.  Servt. 

Jas.  House,  Lieut.  Col.  Arty. 


A  few  extracts  typical  of  the  rest  follow  from  the  Garrison 
Order  Book: 

Garrison  Orders.         Fort  Columbus,  July  15th,  1815. 

Parole — Europe. 
C.  Sign — American. 

Officer  for  the  day — Capt.  Howell. 

Officer  for  the  guard — Lieut.  Berier. 

The  Parole  and  Countersign  will  in  future  be  com- 
municated to  the  officers  of  the  Guard  Mounting  con- 
formable to  an  antient  practice. 

Garrison  Orders.  Fort  Columbus,  Aug.  8,  1815. 

Parole — Galatin. 
Csign — Bayard. 

Officer  for  the  day  tomorrow — Lieut.  Davis. 
General's  Guard  from  Capt.  Richard's  Company. 
Corporal  Snarts,  privates  Mandaville,  Plunkett  and 
Bond  of  Major  Hall's  Company,  and  Texton,  Holt  and 
Spencer  of  Captain  Howell's  Company  are  detailed  for 
Col.  House's  boat,  and  to  report  on  daily  duty  until  fur- 
ther orders. 

By  Order, 

Chas.  Anthony, 
Adjt. 
66 


PERIOD  OF  THE   WAR  OF    l8l2 

Garrison  Orders.  Fort  Columbus, 

9th  Sept.  1815. 
******** 

For  the  preservation  and  better  regulation  of  the  boats 
belonging  to  the  Island,  those  for  use  are  appointed  as 
follows :  The  boats  formerly  in  the  use  of  Lt.  Col.  House, 
Major  Hall  and  Adjutant  Anthony  and  the  yellovy  oared 
barge  are  assigned  to  the  use  of  the  Corps  or  Artillery  at 
this  post,  to  be  turned  over  to  and  distributed  by  Lieut. 
Col.  House.  For  the  use  of  the  Infantry  are  assigned  the 
Green  six-oared  barge,  the  whale  boat  and  the  seven- 
oared  barges  which  are  to  be  turned  over  to  and  distrib- 
uted by  Lt.  Col.  Swetting.  The  4-oared  Green  boat  is 
reserved  for  the  Gen.  Hospital.  No.  12-oared  barge 
known  by  the  name  of  Genls.  Barge  and  the  6-oared 
Green  boat  are  reserved  for  the  use  of  the  Commandant. 
No  interference  is  to  be  made  by  either  Corps  with  the 
boats  assigned  to  the  other.  ******* 

Another   Order   relating   to   transportation    is   extracted   as 

follows : 

Garrison  Orders.  Ft.  Columbus, 

May  6,  1815. 
******  ^-  * 

The  licensed  ferry  Boats  wnll  be  governed  by  the  fol- 
lowing Regulations:  Neither  shore  to  be  left  destitute 
of  a  ferry  Boat  for  more  than  twenty  minutes  between 
the  rising  and  setting  of  the  Sun.  *  *  *  Where  one  Boat 
starts  from  one  shore,  leaving  no  Boat  there,  another  Boat 
starts  at  the  same  moment  from  the  opposite  shore, 
whether  w^ith  or  without  a  passenger.  *  *  * 

Jas.  House, 

Lt.  Col.  Artillery. 
Comdg. 

Orders  for  Sept.   15,   1815,  show  the  retention  of  the  old 

English  name  for  Mess  call. 

Sept.  15,  1815. 
******** 

Parole — Wolf. 
Csign — Montgomery. 

Troop  will  be  beat  at  8  a.  m. 

Roast  beef  at  half  past  12. 

67 


History  of  governor's  island 

The  War  of  1812  followed  shortly  upon  the  building  of  the 
Castle.     Governor  Daniel  D.  Tompkins  reports  as  follows: 

New  York,  Jan.  19,  1810. 

Fort  Columbus  on  Governor's  Island  is  finished  and 
cajiable  of  mounting  104  guns,  of  which  50  are  already  on 
the  parapets.  This  is  a  regular  erected  work  of  masonry 
with  a  ditch,  counterscarp,  covert  way  and  glacis  capable 
of  resisting  a  long  siege. 

Two  tiers  and  platforms  in  the  Castle  are  finished,  each 
capable  of  receiving  26  guns.  Eleven  French  36  pdrs. 
are  already  mounted.  The  whole  armament  of  the 
Castle  when  completed  may  be  stated  as  100  guns,  includ- 
ing the  terrace  on  the  top. 

The  following  Report  is  valuable  as  referring  to  a  fort  on 
Buttermilk  Qiannel.  This  was  probably  situated  at  or  near 
the  present  South  Battery.  It  is  not  known  when  it  was 
demolished,  but  probably  at  the  time  of  building  South  Bat- 
tery. It  is  indeed  possible  that  South  Battery  is  an  enlarge- 
ment of  the  fort  of  1812. 

New  York,  March  15,  1813. 
Fort  Columbus,  Castle  Williams,  and  a  fort  to  guard 
the  pass  at  Buttermilk  Channel,  all  upon  Governor's 
Island,  are  completed  and  equipped  with  everything  need- 
ful for  action.  *  *  *  *  There  is  an  abundant  supply  of 
cannon  balls  on  Governor's  Island,  27,000  blank  cannon 
cartridges,  six  travelling  forges  and  a  number  of  grates 
for  heating  shot. 


At  this  time  considerable  alarm  was  felt  by  the  inhabitants 
of  the  City  at  a  report  that  the  troops  stationed  on  Governor's 
Island  had  been  ordered  to  the  Northern  frontier. 

The  "National  Advocate"  in  its  issue  of  August  30th,  1812, 
allayed  the  natural  fears  of  the  people  in  saying:  "We  are 
authorized  to  state  that  no  troops  stationed  on  Governor's 
Island  have  proceeded  or  are  ordered  to  proceed  to  the  North. 
The  rumour  that  such  an  order  is  to  be  given  is  false  and 
groundless." 

68 


PERIOD   OF   THE    WAR    OF    l8l2 

Apropos  of  the  importance  of  troops  in  the  Harbour  of  New 
York,  not  only  in  popular  feeling  but  also  in  the  judgnient  of 
the  War  Department,  a  brief  extract  may  be  quoted  from  the 
autobiography  of  Major  Joseph  Delafield,  46th  U.  S.  Infantry 
(Lieut.-Colonel  Wm.  S.  Tallmadge  commanding),  who  was 
commissioned  April  15,  1814:  "The  term  of  service  being 
about  to  expire  and  Majr  Tallmadge  &  myself  being  desirous 
to  remain  in  the  Army  and  to  seek  some  more  active  service 
concerted  a  plan  to  form  a  new  regiment,  to  select  our  officers 
from  the  Volunteer  regiment  and  upon  the  strength  of  our 
recruits  and  the  experience  of  our  officers  to  ask  for  their  com- 
missions. These  arrangements  being  made  Majr  Tallmadge 
and  myself  proceeded  to  Washington  and  presented  our  scheme 
to  the  Secretary  of  War  (Genl.  Armstrong).  At  this  time  an 
Act  of  Congress  authorized  the  addition  of  five  regiments  to 
the  line  of  the  Army.  We  were  given  one  of  the  new  regiments, 
Major  Tallmadge  to  be  Lieut.  Col :  Captains  Par  Lee  and  my- 
self Majors  and  the  Company  officers  all  in  compliance  with 
our  scheme  of  selection  and  commissions  were  given  accord- 
ingly. We  began  to  recruit  with  activity  and  soon  had  be- 
tween two  &  three  hundred  men ;  and  as  the  most  of  us  had 
been  confined  to  the  harbor  defense  and  were  desirous  of  more 
active  service  we  established  our  headquarters  at  Pokeepsie, 
which  district  was  beyond  the  command  of  the  officer  com- 
manding in  N.  York.  Being  in  charge  of  the  recruiting  ser- 
vice my  orders  were  to  prepare  the  men  as  rapidly  as  possible 
to  march  North  to  join  the  Army  on  the  Canada  frontier.  Our 
recruiting  district  embraced  the  State  of  New  York.  The 
enemy  however  continued  to  threaten  attacks  along  the  coast, 
and  the  alarm  for  the  safety  of  the  city  was  so  great  that  all 
the  available  forces  were  collected  in  the  harbor  and  orders 
were  obtained  from  Washington  to  bring  our  detachment  to 
the  harbor.  We  joined  the  garrison  on  Governor's  Island  and 
there  remained  until  the  close  of  the  War." 

In  the  Sunmier  of  1814  there  were  over  1000  officers  and 
men  in  the  Garrison  and  great  activity  was  displayed  in  pre- 
paration for  actual  war,  as  the  following  order  indicates : 

69 


HISTORY    OF    GOVERNOR  S    ISLAND 

Garrison  Orders. 

Fort  Columbus,  Aug.  28,  18 14. 

The  Artillery  and  Infantry  will  be  drilled  at  the  Battery 
on  Governors'  Island  every  Monday,  Wednesday,  and 
Friday  from  5  to  6:30  a.  m.  commencing  at  Fort  Colum- 
bus, taking  the  guns  in  course  through  all  the  batteries. 
The  commanding  officers  of  companies  will  cause  their 
companies  to  be  drilled  with  muskets  every  Tuesday, 
Thursday  and  Saturday  at  the  same  hours.  All  officers 
are  punctually  to  attend  drills. 

Sgt.  Dillahunty  will  drill  the  non-commissioned  officers 
of  Artillery  from  9 130  to  11  until  further  orders. 

At  the  sound  of  the  alarm  by  the  bugle  the  troops  will 
turn  out  on  their  company  parade.  The  Infantry  will  be 
conducted  by  their  Senior  officers  to  the  covert  way  of  the 
ditch  of  Fort  Columbus  as  its  proper  alarm  post,  and  the 
Artillery  will  be  conducted  by  companies  to  their  bat- 
teries. The  conductor  of  Artillery  aided  by  the  Q.  M. 
Sergeant  and  Powder  Monkeys  will  furnish  implements 
and  ammunition  and  arrange  them  at  the  batteries. 

By  order, 

Chas.  Anthony,, 
Adjutant  Corps  Artillery. 


The  Island  served  a  valuable  purpose  during  this  war  as  a 
basis  for  recruits  and  school  of  instruction.  Colonel  Burbeck 
according  to  orders  issued  in  June  instructed  in  Artillery  exer- 
cises the  Pennsylvania  Detachment  under  command  of  Cap- 
tain Connely,  the  New  York  Detachment  under  Captain  Sproul, 
and  Captain  Ogden's  Company  of  Artillery  of  the  Jersey  Line, 
while  Lieut.  Colonel  David  Brearly  forwarded  to  Fort  Colum- 
bus all  the  recruits  of  the  Pennsylvania  and  Jersey  Lines  from 
the  Trenton  Depot. 

Some  details  of  pay  and  equipment  prevailing  at  this  period 
are  quoted  as  a  basis  of  comparison  with  the  conditions  a  cen- 
tury later.  The  extracts  are  from  Regulations  in  force  May 
2d,  1814: 

70 


PERIOD   OF   THE    WAR   OF    l8l2 

Pay  in  1814. 

PAY  PER  FORAGE  RATIONS 

MONTH         NO.  OF  HORSES        PER  DAY 

Major-General    $200              7                   15 

Brigadier-General    104              5                   ^^ 

Brigade   Chaplain    50              2                    4 

Professor  of  Math.  Eng.  Corps  50              3                    4 

Apothecary  General    i  ,800  per  annum. 

Commissary   General    3,000  per  annum. 

Cadet   16 

Colonel   (ex.  of  Cavalry) ....  75               4                    6 

1st  Lieut,    (ex.  of  Cavalry)..  30               o                     3 

(Forage  supplied  for  Lieut.  Artillery  and  Light  Dragoons.) 

Corporal    $10 

Private,     bombardier,     sapper 

and  miner  8 

(Women  in  proportion  of  i  to  every  17  men  a  ration  in  kind.) 

Private    waiters — Major-General 4 

Colonel    2 

and  others  in  proportion. 

Clothing  100  Years  Ago  for  Infantry. 

Regulations  of  1814. 

Coat    $6.07 

Cap    2.18 

Frock    i.57>^ 

Shirts  (4  at  $1.30) 5.20 

Stockings    54 

Socks    10 

Shoes    1.05 

Stock    12 

Cockade  and  eagle 8}^ 

Pompon    25 

While  the  pay  and  clothing  of  1814  were  more  satisfactory 
to  the  troops  than  during  the  Revolutionary  Period,  the  thou- 

71 


HISTORY   OF   GOVERNOR  S    ISLAND 

sand  ofificers  and  men  stationed  on  Governor's  Island  in  the 
summer  of  1814  undoubtedly  suffered  many  discomforts.  The 
Castle  had  been  completed,  however,  just  before  the  outbreak 
of  the  War. 

Inasmuch  as  this  is  an  important  building,  always  in  evi- 
dence but  really  little  known,  the  author  quotes  at  some  length 
from  Guernsey's  technical  description  of  Castle  Williams  in 
his  "New  York  in  the  War  of  1812,"  which  states  that  the 
lower  tier  had  27  French  35  pdrs.  and  the  second  tier,  39-20 
pdrs.  The  terrace  over  the  bomb  proof,  he  tells  us,  formed  a 
barbette  battery  upon  which  45  columbiads  carrying  50  pd. 
balls  could  be  placed. 

The  walls  are  about  40  feet  high,  of  Newark  red  sandstone, 
hammered,  and  consist  of  13  arches  of  30  ft.  span,  2  ft.  thick 
and  24  long.  The  cross  walls  are  7  ft.  thick  between  the  arches 
and  12  ft.  at  the  termination  of  the  segment. 

The  guns  are  mounted  in  such  manner  that  the  centre  of 
motion  is  immediately  under  the  muzzle  of  the  gun,  so  that, 
although  the  angle  of  fire  is  54°,  the  mouth  of  tlie  gun  occu- 
pies always  the  same  place,  which  permits  the  throat  of  the 
embrasure  to  be  so  small  that  a  shot  could  not  pass  between 
the  gun  and  its  side  and  the  line  of  fire  cross  at  20  feet  distance. 

The  interior  of  the  Castle  is  open  to  the  sky  and  the  aper- 
tures for  smoke  to  escape  amounts  to  144  square  feet  in  the 
rear.  The  walls  are  8  feet  thick  on  the  ground  tier  and  7  feet 
on  the  next  tier  and  in  the  mass  of  the  wall  arches  are  turned 
over  each  pair  of  embrasures,  so  that  if  it  were  possible  to 
batter  or  break  into  the  lower  tier,  the  upper  one  would  rest 
upon  these  arches  and  exhibit  the  appearance  of  a  bridge  com- 
posed of  very  solid  tiers.  The  outside  cut  of  the  wall  was 
laid  in  Flemish  bond  and  each  stone  dovetailed  in  such  a  man- 
ner that  no  one  could  be  dislocated  without  first  being  broken 
to  pieces.  Over  each  embrasure  is  a  flat  arch  of  remarkable 
strength.  It  also  contains  2  stone  magazines  for  200  barrels 
of  powder  and  within  the  walls  is  an  inexhaustible  well  of  finest 
water  from  which  all  the  shipping  might  be  watered  with 
ease. 

72 


PERIOD   OF   THE    WAR   OF    l8l2 

Colonel  Williams  resigned  his  commission  July  31,  1812, 
on  account  of  dissatisfaction  felt  and  expressed  by  the 
Artillery  at  an  Engineer  officer's  being  assigned  to  command 
the  Castle.  Major  Joseph  A.  Swift  relieved  Colonel  Williams 
as  Colonel  and  Chief  Engineer,  with  headquarters  in  New 
York. 

The  Hon.  Saml.  Mitchell  pays  a  deserved  tribute  to  Colonel 
Williams  in  his  letter  of  October  9th,  1808,  written  during  the 
construction  of  the  Castle,  as  follows :  "The  Chief  Engineer 
who  planned  the  general  fortifications  of  New  York  and  who 
actually  superintended  their  construction  is  Colonel  J.  Wil- 
liams, the  learned  and  ingenious  director  of  the  American 
Military  Academy  at  West  Point  and  President  of  the  Ameri- 
can Philosophical  Society.  The  high  professional  talents  dis- 
played by  this  gentleman  in  projecting  the  works  have  been 
very  ably  seconded  in  carrying  them  into  operation. 

At  Governor's  Island  Fort  Columbus  is  now  finished.  It 
consists  of  4  bastions,  3  curtains  and  an  attached  casemated 
ravelin  with  two  retired  flanks,  the  whole  capable  of  mounting 
96  guns  and  might  without  inconvenience  bring  one-half  its 
face  at  one  instant  against  any  passing  ship,  while  it  com- 
pletely commands  the  East  River. 

It  is  a  work  composed  of  a  walled  rampart  8  feet  thick  at  its 
base,  diminishing  by  its  slope  to  6  feet  at  the  line  of  the  cordon 
with  counter  forts  of  five  feet  in  depth  at  the  distance  of  13 
feet  from  each  other,  surmounted  by  a  solid  brick  parapet  of 
10  feet  in  thickness.  The  ditch  is  about  40  feet  wide,  with  a 
walled  counterscarp,  a  walled  covert  way  and  a  sodded  glacis 
extending  to  the  water  edge. 

At  Bedlow's  Island  a  mortar  battery  commands  all  the  chan- 
nel. This  battery  is  on  the  level  of  the  ditch  of  a  Star  fort  in 
its  rear  which  not  only  commands  it  but  commands  and  pro- 
tects Ellis  Island. 

The  old  wooden  parapet  is  taken  down  at  Ellis  Island  and  a 
platform  for  a  gun  battery  is  completed.  Under  charge  of 
Colonel  Williams  a  Castle  at  the  Battery  is  being  built  similar 
to  that  on  Governor's  Island.     The  North  Battery,   foot  of 

73 


HISTORY   OF   GOVERNOR  S    ISLAND 

Hubert  Street,  is  a  circular  battery  of  20  guns  in  one  tier 
which  will  cross  fire  with  the  S.  W.  Battery. 

In  Fort  Columbus  there  are  actually  in  place  60  cannon,  in 
Castle  WilHams  52,  in  S.  W.  Battery  (Castle  Clinton)  28,  at 
Bedlow's  Island  24,  at  North  Battery  16,  Ellis  Island  14, 
Arsenal  near  Custom  House  34. 

Adding  for  the  uncompleted  third  tier  of  Castle  Williams, 
Governor's  Island,  26,  and  for  the  bomb  battery  at  Ellis  Island 
4  mortars,  we  have  a  total  of  258  pieces. 

The  estimated  complement  to  man  these  guns  is  as  fol- 
lows : 

On  Governor's  Island :  Fort  Columbus  780  men,  Castle 
Williams  1014;  Bedlow's  Island  312,  Ellis  Island  182,  S.  W. 
Battery  364,  North  Battery  208,  Arsenal  442,  making  a  total 
requirement  of  2,302  men." 

The  larger  estimate  for  Castle  Williams  is  based  upon  the 
additional  26  guns  in  the  third  tier. 

The  above  quoted  letter  of  the  Hon.  Saml.  Mitchell  was 
written  in  1808.  During  the  continuance  of  the  War  of  1812- 
15,  references  to  which  are  to  be  found  in  this  Chapter,  oc- 
curred a  practical  test  of  the  efficiency  of  the  guns  of  Castle 
Williams  in  a  target  practice  for  the  benefit  of  the  Artillery 
Militia. 

The  one  of  which  we  have  an  account  took  place  on  the 
14th  August,  18 12.  The  target  was  an  old  hulk  anchored  in 
the  stream  about  1,000  yards  from  shore,  equidistant  from 
Castle  Williams  and  the  Fort  at  the  Battery.  General  Mor- 
ton's Brigade  at  the  Battery  Parade  opened  fire  with  6,  9,  12 
and  18  pdrs. 

The  Veteran  Corps  of  Artillery  commanded  by  Captain 
Delamater  fired  from  a  long  nine,  which  repeatedly  raked  the 
hull  of  the  target.* 

Several  heavy  shot  from  the  guns  in  Castle  Williams  also 
hulled  the  target.     After  the  firing  had  continued  two  hours 


*  The  Veteran  Corps  of  Artillery  nearly  a  century  after  this  event  in- 
stituted relations  with  Governor's  Island  of  a  more  peaceful  character, 
(v.  p.  150). 

74 


PERIOD   OF   THE    WAR   OF    l8l2 

the  hulk  was  perceived  to  be  on  fire.  This  was  caused  by  the 
hot  shot  fired  by  Colonel  Curtenius'  Regiment,  which  were 
heated  in  a  travelling  forge  attached  to  the  Brigade.  The  re- 
sult of  the  firing  was  as  follows : 

NO,  OF  SHOTS.  EFFECTIVE.         MISSED. 

Castle  Williams    3°  27  3 

Castle    Clinton    40  36  4 

The  Artillery  V.  C.  A. 

and  others   3H  254  60 


384  317  67 

The  military  activity  of  the  regular  forces  on  Governor's 
Island  at  this  period  was  reflected  in  the  atmosphere  of  ex- 
pectation that  prevailed  throughout  the  City.  In  every  walk 
of  life  there  was  but  one  theme  of  conversation,  and  the  various 
armed  organizations,  whether  shooting  long  nines  or  smoking 
churchwardens,  were  parati  ad  helium.  Even  the  fashionable 
restaurants  of  the  day  were  redolent  of  war,  as  we  judge  from 
the  description  of  the  Shakespeare  Tavern,  which  was  one  of 
a  number  of  similar  establishments. 

The  Shakespeare  Tavern  was  situated  at  the  southwest  cor- 
ner of  Fulton  and  Nassau  Streets.  It  was  here  that  the  Vet- 
eran Artillery  Corps  had  their  holiday  dinners,  although  it 
also  dined,  as  it  does  to  this  day,  at  Fraunces'  Tavern,  on 
occasions  of  ceremony. 

The  Shakespeare  was  kept  by  one  Hodgkinson  and  it  was 
adorned  in  181 5  by  a  great  sign  of  Columbia  and  Britannia 
with  joined  hands  and  an  olive  branch  and  the  words,  "Forgive 
and  Forget." 

Over  the  Eagle  were  draped  the  American  colours  and  over 
the  Lion  was  the  shield  of  Great  Britain.  Over  all  were  the 
names  of  our  Commissioners,  Adams,  Bogart,  Gallatin,  Clay 
and  Russell,  and  the  word  "Peace,"  with  intertwined  flags. 

The  decorations  thus  described  were  added  to  the  other  at- 
tractions of  the  Tavern  at  the  establishment  of  peace,  which 
was  officially  announced  in  the  following  orders : 

75 


HISTORY   OF    GOVERNOR  S    ISLAND 

General  Orders. 

Adjt.  Gen.  Office, 

3D  Military  District,  New  York. 
Feb.  6th,  1815. 

A  Martial  Salute  will  be  fired  tomorrow  from  Gover- 
nor's Island  in  honor  of  the  Glorious  Victory  obtained 
over  the  enemy  at  New  Orleans  on  the  8th  January  by  the 
troops  under  Major  Gen.  Jackson. 

This  order  was  followed  by  a  Gen.  order,  Feb.  20,  reciting 
that  a  Treaty  of  Peace  had  been  signed  between  the  United 
States  and  Great  Britain  at  Washington  on  Feb.  17th,  and 
ordering  a  Martial  Salute  to  be  fired  at  noon  on  Feb.  21st 
from  Governor's  Island  and  all  posts  from  Sandy  Hook  to  the 
forts  at  Harlem,  the  Salutes  to  be  followed  by  a  "Feu  de 
joie"  and  an  "Extra  Ration  of  Liquor  to  be  oflfered  to  the 
troops  to  drink  the  glorious  termination  of  an  honorable 
War."  It  was  also  ordered  that  Feb.  25th  should  be  "passed 
by  the  Troops  of  this  Garrison  in  festivity  and  rejoicing  and 
in  the  evening  an  illumination  of  the  officers'  Quarters  and 
Barracks  and  Guard  House  to  begin  at  dusk  and  to  continue 
till  9  o'clock.  At  half  after  7  o'clock  in  the  evening  "18 
rockets  will  be  discharged  from  the  castle  under  the  direction 
of  the  Artillery  Quarter  Master." 

That  War  was  over  and  Peace  assured  may  be  gathered 
from  the  following  Orders  relative  to  details  generally  neg- 
lected under  war  conditions: 

Artillery  Orders.  Fort  Columbus, 

14  March,  181 5. 

A  long  standing  Genl.  Order  regulating  the  cut  of  Hair 
&  Whiskers  has  for  some  time  past  been  too  little  attended 
to  and  there  appear  in  the  ranks  as  many  fashions  with 
regard  to  this  part  of  the  dress  as  there  are  kinds  of  men. 
There  may  be  some  excuse  for  these  irregularities  in  new- 
raised  Regts.,  but  it  ought  to  be  expected  that  so  old  and 
respectable  a  corps  of  the  Army  as  the  Artillery  would 
set  the  example  of  neatness.  ********* 

At  the  next  weekly  inspection  every  non-Com  officer 
and  Soldier  will  appear  with  his  whiskers  trimmed  off  in 

76 


PERIOD  OF  THE   WAR   OF    l8l2 

a  line  from  the  tip  of  the  car  to  the  bottom  of  the  nose 
and  the  Hair  cropped,  and  it  is  expected  that  Officers  of 
Companies  will  set  the  example. 

By  order —       Chas.  Anthony, 

Adj.  Corps  Artillery. 

It  is  interesting  to  compare  with  these  Orders  of  1815  the 
following  Orders  on  the  same  subject  thirty-three  years  later 
at  the  close  of  the  Mexican  War: 

Genl.  Orders  War  Department, 

No.  35  Adjutant  General's  Office, 

Washington,  July  6,  1848. 

A  Proclamation  by  the  President  of  the  United  States 
of  America  announcing  the  termination  of  the  War  with 
Mexico. 

(Here  follows  the  Treaty) 

(Here  follow  directions  as  to  discharge  of  officers  and 
men  of  the  ten  additional  Regiments,  of  the  Volunteer 
troops,  Recruits,  &c.,  in  10  paragraphs.) 


Paragraph  No.  11  is  as  follows : 

II.  The  Jwir  to  be-  short,  or  what  is  generally  termed 
cropped:  the  whiskers  not  to  extend  below  the  lower  tip 
of  the  ear,  and  a  line  thence  with  the  curve  of  the  mouth : 
Moustaches  will  not  be  worn  (except  by  Cavalry  regi- 
ments) by  officers  or  men  on  any  pretence  whatever. 
(Army  Regulations,  page  21^.) 

The  non-observance  of  the  above  regulation  (tolerated 
during  the  war  with  Mexico)  is  no  longer  permitted.  It 
is  enjoined  upon  all  officers  to  observe  and  enforce  the 
regulation. 

By  order  of  the  Secretary  of  War. 

R.  Jones, 

Adjt  Genl. 


CHAPTER   IV. 

Mexican  and  Civil  War  Period. 

The  Mexican  and  Civil  Wars  were  so  far  removed  geo- 
graphically from  New  York  that  the  activities  of  the  Gover- 
nor's Island  Garrison  were  naturally  of  a  different  nature 
from  those  in  the  stirring  times  of  the  Revolution  of  1776  and 
of  the  lesser  War  of  1812.  This  period  may  therefore  be 
passed  over  more  briefly  in  order  not  to  prolong  unduly  our 
story. 

In  1847  the  1st  New  York  Volunteer  Infantry  was  mustered 
in  on  Governor's  Island,  Colonel  Ward  Burnett,  a  graduate  of 
West  Point,  commanding.  After  gallant  service  in  Mexico 
the  Regiment  returned  to  New  York  and  their  colours  were 
preserved  for  many  years  in  the  Governor's  Room  in  the  City 
Hall.  In  1907  they  were  presented  to  Governor's  Island  by 
the  City  and  with  imposing  military  and  ecclesiastical  cere- 
monies were  installed  in  the  chapel  of  Saint  Cornelius  the  Cen- 
turion, where  their  tattered  remnants  now  hang.  A  dozen  or 
more  survivors  of  the  Mexican  War  participated  in  the  cere- 
monies. The  history  of  the  colours  which  follows  is  taken 
from  the  official  tablet  accompanying  the  flags  upon  their  re- 
moval from  the  City  Hall. 

History  of  the  Colors 

OF  THE 

1ST  N.  Y.  Regiment — Mexican  War, 

The  First  Regiment  of  New  York  Volunteers  in  the 
Mexican  War  was  presented  with  a  stand  of  Colors  on 
January  8th,  1847,  by  the  City  of  New  York.  The 
Colonel  of  the  Regiment,  Ward  B.  Burnett,  received  the 
Colors  personally,  part  of  the  Regiment  having  sailed  for 
Mexico  before  the  date  of  presentation.  The  flags  were 
received  by  the  Regiment  when  the  first  parade  took  place 
after  the  presentation,  on  the  Mexican  Island  of  Lobos 
about  sixty  miles  north  of  Vera  Cruz  where  the  fleet  con- 

78 


MEXICAN   AND  CIVIL   WAR   PERIOD 

taining  the  army  assembled.  The  officers  of  the  Regiment 
were  called  to  the  front  and  centre,  where  they  formed 
a  circle  about  the  Colors.  Each  officer  placed  his  left 
hand  on  one  of  the  staffs,  raised  his  right  hand,  and  took 
a  solemn  oath  under  the  direction  of  Colonel  Burnett  to 
protect  the  flags  with  his  life  blood.  The  Colors  consisted 
of  two  flags  and  two  guide  colors,  one  the  national  flag 
and  the  other  a  red  flag  with  the  coat  of  arms  of  the  City 
of  New  York  on  one  side  and  the  coat  of  arms  of  the 
State  on  the  other.  The  red  flag  was  the  first  over  the 
inner  wall  of  the  Castle  of  Chapultepec,  on  the  morning  of 
September  13th,  1847.  Color  Sergeant  Hipolite  Dardon- 
ville  carried  the  red  flag.  Orderly  Sergeant  Robert  M. 
Harper,  of  Company  D,  supported  him  on  one  side  and 
1st  Lieutenant  Francis  E.  Pinto  supported  him  on  the 
other.  All  went  over  the  wall  together.  The  Regiment 
took  an  active  part  in  the  siege  and  capture  of  Vera  Cruz, 
the  storming  of  Cerro  Gordo  Pass,  the  taking  of  the  City 
of  Puebla.  the  battle  of  Contreras  and  Churubusco,  where 
Color  Sergeant  Romein  was  killed,  the  storming  of  the 
Castle  of  Chapultepec,  where  Color  Guide  Zimmerman 
was  killed  inside  of  the  inner  wall  of  the  Castle,  and  the 
capture  of  the  City  of  Mexico.  The  Regiment  belonged 
to  the  1st  Division  that  entered  the  City  at  daybreak  of 
the  morning  of  September  14th,  1847. 

Four  cannon,  24  pdr.  bronze  howitzers,  are  mounted  at  the 
steps  of  the  Chapel  leading  from  the  nave  into  the  choir.  The 
inscription  on  each  of  these  cannon,  which  are  used  to  carry 
chains  across  the  choir,  is  as  follows: 

Vera  Cruz,  Cerro  Gordo,  Contreras, 

Churubusco,  Chapultepec, 

City  of  Mexico,  1847. 

A  letter  from  Captain  Hungerford  to  George  W.  Morton, 
Esq.,  New  York,  gives  some  additional  data  in  regard  to  this 
distinguished  Regiment,  mustered  in  on  Governor's  Island 
and  memorialized  by  the  exhibition  of  their  Colours  in  the 
Chapel.  It  may  be  mentioned  in  this  connection  that  Veterans 
of  this  Regiment  come  occasionally  to  look  upon  their  old 

79 


HISTORY  OF  governor's   ISLAND 

colours  and  at  the  cannon  mounted  below  them  inscribed  with 
the  names  of  the  battles  in  which  they  served.  The  letter 
follows : 

City  of  Mexico — Halls  of  Montezuma.    • 

Deer  7",  1847. 

The  2d  Regt  New  York  Volunteers  in  the  IMexican 
War  (known  later  as  the  ist  New  York)  were  at  Churu- 
busco  with  300  men,  2  companies  being  on  detached  ser- 
vice. 

The  Regiment  lost  in  killed  and  wounded  115.  At 
Chapultepec  the  Regiment  was  the  first  to  enter  the 
works,  carrying  our  colours,  and  the  National  standard 
was  the  first  that  took  the  breeze  over  Chapultepec.  The 
flag  of  the  Empire  State  was  displayed  from  the  balcony 
of  the  building  (City  Hall?)  the  Colour  Sergeant  not 
being  able  to  find  the  passage  leading  to  the  top  of  the 
building. 


The  colours  are  in  a  very  tattered  condition,  the  National 
ensign  in  particular  having  only  part  of  the  Union  and  a  little 
fringe  left.  This  is  reasonably  supposed  to  be  the  state 
in  which  they  were  brought  back  from  Mexico,  as  they  have 
been  preserved  since  1847  in  a  glass  case  in  the  Governor's 
Room,  New  York  City  Hall. 

Another  interesting  reminder  of  the  Mexican  War  to  be 
seen  in  the  Chapel  is  a  large  oil  painting,  a  Pieta,  which  was 
once  the  property  of  Colonel  Thomas  Staniford.  The  brass 
plate  underneath  recites  that  the  ''painting  is  donated  as  a 
memorial  to  the  widow  of  the  late  Doctor  N.  S.  Jarvis,  U.  S.  A., 
Jennie  B.  Jarvis,  a  noble  and  faithful  servant  of  God,  identified 
with  the  Army  for  a  period  of  over  70  years,  who  died  ]\Tay 
26,  1907."  Colonel  Staniford  was  a  veteran  of  the  War  of 
1812,  and  was  distinguished  for  gallantry  and  good  judgment 
in  the  Florida  and  Mexican  Wars.  He  served  on  Governor's 
Island  in  the  30's. 

The  Votive  Shield  in  the  Chapel  referred  to  on  p.  148 
recalls  the  dramatic  sinking  of  the  San  Francisco  in  1853. 

80 


MEXICAN   AND   CIVIL   WAR   PERIOD 

111  November  and  December,  1853,  tlie  Headquarters,  Band 
and  Companies,  A.  B.  C.  D.  G.  H.  I.  K.  and  L.  of  the  3rd  Ar- 
tillery, about  300  officers  and  men,  were  on  Governor's  Island 
awaiting  orders  for  station  on  the  Pacific  Coast. 

They  sailed  for  San  Francisco  via  Cape  Horn  on  December 
22,  1853,  on  the  "San  Francisco,"  a  side  wheel  steamer  of 
3000  tons,  Captain  James  T.  Watkins.  There  were  740  per- 
sons on  board.  Before  leaving  they  had  placed  in  tlie  Gover- 
nor's Island  chapel  an  heraldic  shield  with  the  name  of  the 
organization  and  date  of  their  being  here,  little  thinking  of  the 
way  in  which  they  were  to  return  to  their  station.  •  The  "San 
Francisco"  almost  at  once  ran  into  heavy  weather  which  soon 
became  a  tornado,  and  at  9  a.  m.  on  December  24th  a  huge 
wave  swept  everything  from  the  upper  deck,  including  the 
main  cabin,  and  carried  with  it  about  175  persons  who  had 
taken  refuge  there.  The  brig  "Napoleon,"  too  small  to  render 
practical  assistance,  carried  news  of  the  wreck  to  Boston. 
The  Government  at  once  sent  vessels  to  the  rescue,  and  the 
survivors,  nearly  600  persons,  were  taken  off  the  "San  Fran- 
cisco" by  the  American  Ship  "Antarctic,"  the  American  bark 
"Kilby"  and  the  British  ship  "Three  Bells."  The  boats  of 
the  vessel  were  swept  away  by  the  sea  and  her  fires  were 
put  out  and  she  soon  sprang  a  leak.  The  soldiers  and 
other  passengers  rendered  aid  by  manning  the  pumps  and 
jettisoning  the  cargo.  Lieutenant  L.  K.  Murray,  U.  S.  N., 
a  passenger  on  the  "San  Francisco,"  set  a  splendid  example 
of  heroism. 

The  "Kilby"  took  her  rescued  people  to  Boston.  The 
"Antarctic"  proceeded  to  Liverpool,  where  the  survivors  of  the 
wreck  were  not  allowed  to  land  and  after  long  delay  they 
were  returned  to  New  York.  The  survivors  of  the  "Three 
Bells"  were  more  fortunate,  being  landed  at  New  York  Janu- 
ary 13th,  1845,  three  weeks  after  the  disaster. 

The  return  of  the  survivors  to  Governor's  Island  is  de- 
scribed by  the  son  of  a  3rd  Artillery  bandsman,  whose  father 
and  mother  were  on  the  "San  Francisco,"  as  being  a  thrilling 
occasion.     Visitors  to  the  Chapel  will   find  a  second  shield 


HISTORY  OF  GOVERNOR  S   ISLAND 

erected  by  the  survivors  of  the  Regiment  "in  sorrow  and 
thankfuhiess."  The  shield  is  described  with  others  of  the 
Mexican  War  period,  on  p.  148. 

The  3rd  Artillery  at  the  time  of  leaving  Governor's  Island 
was  commanded  by  Colonel  William  Gates.  His  son  was  lost 
in  the  wreck,  also  the  wife  of  Captain  George  Taylor.  The 
officers  lost  were  ]\Iajor  John  Macrae  Washington,  ist  Lieu- 
tenant Horace  B.  Field,  ist  Lieutenant  Richard  H.  Smith,  all 
of  the  3rd  Artillery. 

Period  of  1861. 

"Another  interval  of  pipeclay  and  monotonous  guard  duty 
was  succeeded  by  the  stirring  times  of  1861-65,  when  Gover- 
nor's Island  became  the  important  depot  for  the  United  States. 
The  ancient  Castle  became  the  dungeon  for  Confederate 
prisoners  of  war,  large  numbers  being  confined  there  during 
the  war  and  several  executions  taking  place."  Doctor  Rob- 
ertson recalls  an  interesting  event  of  1863.  During  the  draft 
riots  of  that  year  the  troops  stationed  on  Governor's  Island 
were  guarding  the  Sub-Treasury  in  Wall  Street.  Their  ab- 
sence was  seized  by  the  rioters  as  a  time  for  attacking  the 
Island  and  capturing  ammunition,  rifles  and  stores.  The  City 
authorities,  hearing  of  this  movement,  withdrew  all  ferry-boats 
from  their  slips.  The  rioters,  however,  secured  other  boats 
and  soon  were  on  their  way  to  the  Island.  Eighty  employes 
of  the  Ordnance  Department  hurriedly  armed  themselves  with 
muskets,  trained  some  cannon  on  the  invaders  and  succeeded 
in  repulsing  the  attack.  At  various  periods  of  the  Civil  War 
large  bodies  of  troops  were  encamped  on  Governor's  Island 
going  to  and  returning  from  the  front.  On  one  occassion 
seven  regiments  were  encamped  here  at  one  time  and  an  eye- 
witness has  described  to  the  author  the  stirring  events  of 
those  days  and  the  inspiring  scene  from  the  glacis  when  this 
large  body  of  troops  was  formed  for  retreat. 

A  Hospital  was  erected  at  this  period.  The  middle  wing 
survives  in  the  present  Dept.  Hdqrs.  Bldg.,  the  school  build- 

82 


MEXICAN    AND   CIVIL   WAR   PERIOD 

ing,  printing  office  and  Hospital  Steward's  quarters  repre- 
senting various  wards.  The  Castle  was  crowded  with  prison- 
ers during  the  Civil  War.  Chaplain  IMcVickar,  who  began 
his  chaplaincy  in  one  war  and  ended  it  in  another,  with  the 
visitation  of  Cholera  in  1849  between  the  two,  had  much  to  do 
with  and  for  these  prisoners  of  War.  Bishop  Whittinghani 
of  Maryland  waiting  to  him  in  1861,  says:  "I  am  greatly 
pleased  to  find  how  thoroughly  you  had  anticipated  all  that 
I  wished  to  ask  you  about  your  work  in  the  Port  of  New 
York." 

The  Castle  is  still  (1913)  used  as  a  Military  Prison.  The 
stone  magazines  at  the  gate  have  been  taken  down  to  provide 
place  for  a  much-needed  guard  house,  which  is  being  built 
of  the  same  material  just  inside  the  main  gate. 

A  picture  in  Harper's  Weekly  (May,  1861)  shows  troops 
drilling  on  Governor's  Island  near  the  Administration  Build- 
ing. A  view  of  the  courtyard  of  the  Barracks  discloses  a 
fence  around  the  centre  of  the  enclosure. 

The  book  records  on  file  in  Washington  of  Fort  Columbus 
at  this  period  are  as  follows :  Record  of  Convalescents,  Strag- 
glers,  etc.,   Union   Forces,    Received   and    Forwarded,    1863, 

1864,  1865,  and  Record  of  Deserters  and  General  Prisoners 
confined  1865- 1870.  To  transcribe  these  would  be  hardly 
warranted  by  the  scope  of  this  book.       An  incident  of  April, 

1865,  throws  light  upon  the  use  of  the  Castle  for  prisoners 
of  war,  of  whom  there  were  sometimes  1,000  confined  at 
one  time. 

The  account  was  written  lately  in  connection  with  the  elec- 
tion of  the  hero  of  this  incident,  William  Robert  Webb,  as 
United  States  Senator  from  Tennessee. 

"Three  days  before  the  surrender  of  Lee  at  Appomattox, 
in  April,  1865,  a  young  Confederate  officer,  William  Robert 
Webb,  was  held  as  a  prisoner  of  war  in  the  stockade  about 
Castle  Williams  on  Governor's  Island.  He  had  been  brought 
North  from  Virginia  only  one  day  before.  W^ebb  coidd  look 
over  the  stockade  toward  the  lower  end  of  Manhattan,  and 
could  see  the  city  easily.     Although  he  had  been  so  badly  in- 

83 


HISTORY  OF  governor's   ISLAND 

jured  that  he  could  not  march  with  the  infantry,  and  had 
changed  to  the  cavalry  arm,  he  seemed  to  see  only  the  city 
wharves,  and  not  the  four  hundred  yards  of  water  in  the 
channel  between.  After  dark  he  climbed  the  stockade  and 
slipped  from  the  wall  into  the  bay. 

"The  chill  of  early  April  was  still  in  the  water.  In  spite  of 
it,  Webb  swam  across  to  a  point  just  below  Castle  Garden 
now  the  Aquarium,  and  lifted  himself  upon  the  dock.  He 
wore  a  faded  Confederate  uniform,  and  found  himself  enjoy- 
ing the  doubtful  freedom  of  a  hostile  city  clad  in  this  garb  and 
wringing  wet.     A  citizen  spoke  to  him  in  Battery  Park. 

"  'Who  are  you?'  he  said.     'How  did  you  come  to  fall  in?' 

"  'I  swam  across  from  the  Island,'  Webb  answered.  'I 
escaped  from  the  prison  stockade  over  there.  I  am  Capt. 
Webb  of  the  Confederate  army.' 

"The  citizen  laughed  and  passed  on.  There  with  the  lights 
of  the  prison  twinkling  just  across  the  channel  several  other 
loungers  and  passers-by  asked  Webb  the  same  questions  and 
got  the  same  answer. 

"Webb  stayed  in  the  city  for  three  days  wearing  his  uniform 
and  telling  every  one  who  asked  for  his  story  the  plain  truth. 
Doubtless  if  the  war  had  gone  on  for  some  time,  he  might 
have  been  retaken.     As  it  was,  he  went  free." 

Webb  was  Captain  and  Adjutant  of  the  2nd  North  Carolina 
Cavalry. 

Another  amusing  escape  from  the  Castle  related  by  a  con- 
temporary was  that  of  a  Confederate  soldier  who  in  some 
way  managed  to  get  out  of  a  gate  just  as  the  sentry  had  passed. 
He  ran  as  far  as  he  could  while  the  sentry  was  on  the  beat. 
Just  before  the  sentry  turned  the  prisoner  also  turned  and 
boldly  approached  the  main  gate.  The  sentry,  perceiving 
him,  ordered  him  peremptorily  away  from  the  Castle,  stating 
that  visitors  were  not  allowed  to  come  near  the  gate,  an 
order  that  coincided  remarkably  with  the  views  of  the 
Southern  tourist  who  carried  it  into  instant  effect  and  did 
not  return. 

The  inscription  on  the  Castle,  not  often  seen  because  of  the 

84 


MEXICAN    AND   CIVIL    WAR   PERIOD 

overgrowth  of  vines,  is  the  name  Castle  Williams  carved  on  a 
keystone  over  the  main  gate  with  graceful  flourishes.  To  the 
left  on  a  large  block  of  stone  are  the  words 

Commenced         and  to  the  right,  in  the         Compleated 
1807  spelling  of  the  day,  181 1 

The  guns,  except  those  on  the  parapets,  were  removed  in 
1893- 


CHAPTER   V.  . 

Garrison  Events  and  Notes,  1868-1913. 

In  this  chapter  various  data  of  more  or  less  importance  are 
cited  to  throw  light  upon  the  life  of  the  Garrison. 

Governor's  Island  remained  an  Artillery  post  till  1850,  then 
it  was  a  Recruiting  Depot  till  1878,  when  it  became  Division 
Head  Quarters  with  an  Artillery  Garrison.  In  1894,  the  Gar- 
rison became  an  Infantry  one  and  so  remains. 

The  following  brief  extracts  are  taken  from  the  Medical 
History  of  the  Post  by  Surgeons  Page  and  Elbrey,  1866: 

Sea  wall  built  at  S.  W.  side  of  Island — 1868 — July,  Mean 
strength  of  the  Garrison  in  this  month — 618  men. 

1870 — August — 172  cases  of  yellow  fever — Troops  in  camp 
— drills  omitted. 

1869 — The  Music  Boys  being  too  crowded  in  South  Bat- 
tery, half  their  number  went  into  camp,  wall  tents  being  used. 

1870 — September — yellow  fever — 66  cases. 

The  S.  E.  portion  of  the  Island  appears  the  most  infected. 
In  one  set  of  quarters  21  were  sick  out  of  22.  In  another,  33 
out  of  40.  This  part  of  the  Island  was  quarantined  from  the 
rest.  The  caretaker  in  the  Chapel  stricken  with  the  disease — 
removed  to  hospital. 

October — Total  number  of  cases  of  yellow  fever,  131. 
Patients  transferred  to  West  Bank  Hospital,  10  miles  down 
the  Bay.  Many  died  as  result  of  transfer.  Chaplain  Alex- 
ander Davidson  caring  for  soldiers,  takes  the  disease  and  dies. 

1 871 — March — Buildings  in  which  yellow  fever  existed  torn 
down. 

In  1868  the  barracks  in  Fort  Jay  were  as  now,  but  the  one 
on  west  side  was  used  for  Officers'  Quarters.  The  officers' 
quarters  were  divided  on  either  side  of  the  sally  port  into  two 
parts  by  a  hall,  on  each  side  of  which  were  communicating 
rooms,  16  rooms  in  all  and  8  kitchens  reckoned  for  8  sets  of 
quarters. 

86 


HARRISON    EVENTS   AND    NOTES,    1868-I913 

From  Circular  No.  8,  Surgeon  Generals'  Office,  by  Surgeon 
J.  J.  Millan  we  learn  some  details  as  to  buildings  on  the 
Post.  The  building  now  used  as  Administration  Building 
was  at  one  time  a  Court  Martial  and  billiard  room  and  was 
used  occasionally  for  dances.  This  is  the  long  building  just 
east  of  the  Main  Fort.  The  Q.  M.  Row,  near  Corbin  Hall 
was  built  in  1871.  This  Row  contains  19  quarters  for  families 
of  employes.  On  the  site  of  the  present  Chapel  stood  a  frame 
building  used  for  band  quarters,  later  for  Post  Library  and 
later  still  as  residence  for  the  Boat  Captains.  In  1905  when 
the  Chapel  was  built  it  was  removed  to  a  position  near  tlie 
Quartermaster's  Office  and  stables. 

This  building  at  one  time  was  the  Garrison  Library  and 
contained  a  fine  collection  of  books.  The  first  floor  was  used 
for  school  purposes ;  the  second  floor  for  the  library.  It  was 
burned  in  1869  and  the  books  were  destroyed. 

The  first  cemetery  was  near  the  present  Colonel's  Row ;  the 
second  was  near  the  old  Chapel.  The  victims  of  the  yellow 
fever  and  cholera  were  buried  here.  The  iron  fence  that  sur- 
rounded this  graveyard  stands  now  behind  the  General's 
Row  on  the  Lower  Road.  The  Pest  House  stood  near  the 
present  Colonel's  quarters,  Regimental  Row.  The  present 
hospital  was  built  about  1878.  No  interments  were  allowed 
in  the  Cemetery  after  1878  and  in  1886  the  remains  were  re- 
moved to  the  National  Cemetery,  Cypress  Hill?,  Brookyn. 

A  few  years  ago  (1907)  remains  were  found  during  ex- 
cavations for  repairs  at  one  of  the  quarters  in  Colonel's  Row. 
This  discovery  recalled  the  site  of  the  first  Cemetery  estab- 
lished on  Governor's  Island.  There  is  no  known  record  of  its 
date,  and  it  is  quite  possible  that  the  British  used  it  during 
their  occupation,  1776-1783,  as  war  conditions  would  make  it 
difficult  to  establish  one  elsewhere. 

Governor's  Island  was  visited  by  epidemics  of  cholera  in 
1854,  1857,  1866,  1867  and  1868,  and  by  the  yellow  fever  in 
1856  and  1870.  These  epidemics  were  general  in  their  char- 
acter, affecting  not  only  New  York  but  adjacent  territory. 
The  fact  of  the  Island's  being  a  Recruiting  Station  during 

87 


HISTORY   OF   GOVERNOR  S    ISLAND 

that  time  serves  to  explain  the  failure  to  quarantine  the  Gar- 
rison. 

The  Hospital  was  overcrowded  with  soldiers  and  the  other 
cases  of  which  there  were  an  enormous  number,  as  noted  on 
p.  86,  were  treated  in  the  various  houses  in  which  they 
occurred. 

The  following  list  of  burials,  while  accurate  in  detail,  prob- 
ably omits  the  names  of  some,  especially  of  those  who  were 
transferred  to  West  Bank  Hospital  during  the  yellow  fever  of 
1870,  and  of  the  prisoners  of  War,  it  being  believed  that  more 
died  in  confinement  than  given  in  the  list  below : 

List  of  Officers  and  Members  of  their  Families  Buried 
ON  Governor's  Island. 

DATE  OF  DEATH 

Charles  Frye,  child Sept.  27,  1798 

Constant  Freeman,   child AU|g.  5,  1799 

Robert  Heaton,  Jr.,  Lieut.  2d  U.  S.  Art'y Oct.  17,  1799 

Mildred  K.  Souder,  child Sept.  6,  1807 

James  H.  Boyle,  Major  U.  S.  Art'y Feb.  8,  1816 

Helen    S.   Churchill,   child Sept.  27,  1818 

Samuel  Armstrong,  Lieut.  U.  S.  Art'y Sept.  8,  1819 

Lydia  Gates,  wife  of  Major  Lemuel  Gates. . . .  Aprl.  26,  1822 

W.  J.  Page,  child Febr.  10,  1823 

James  C.  DeKamp,  status  unknown Febr.  29,  1854 

Susan  J.  DeKamp,  wife  of  above Sept.  11,  1824 

James   Mann,   Surgeon Nov.  7,  1843 

Eliza  F.  Brown,  child  of  Capt.  H.  Brown June  3,  1835 

Julia  A.  Brown,  child  of  Capt.  H.  Brown Dec.  15,  1836 

William  Gates,  Col.  and  Bvt.  Brig.-Genl.,  3d 

U.  S.  Art'y Oct.      7,  1868 

Collinson  R.  Gates,  Bvt.  Major,  8th  U.  S.  In- 
fantry     June   28,  1849 

Sarah  M.  Gates,  wife  of  Col.  Wm.  Gates Oct.     27,  1843 

88 


GARRISON    EVENTS   AND    NOTES,    1868-I913 

DATE  OF  DEATH 

Mary  Reed  Collins  Gates,  child  of  Wm.  Gates. Dec.  3,  1838 

Lydia  Bedloe  Gates,  child  of  Wm.  Gates Febr.  28,  1839 

Samuel  L.  Russel,  Capt.  2d  U.  S.  Inf'y Febr.  26,  1839 

James  Green,  Capt.  2d  U.  S.  Arty Aug.  17,  1842 

Alexander  Cummings,  Colonel Jan.  31,  1842 

L.  M.  Shackleford,  Lieut,  ist  U.  S.  Art'y Oct.  12,  1847 

H.  D.  Wallen   (Samuel  G.),  child  of  H.  D. 

Wallen    Mar.  22,  1848 

Sidney  Smith,  Lieut,  ist  U.  S.  Art'y Nov.  6,  1849 

B.  K.  Pierce,  Lt.-Col.  ist  U.  S.  Art'y Aprl.  i,  1850 

Pierce,  daughter  of  above No   date 

F.  F.  ,  Lieut No  date 

C.  B.  ,  Lieut No   date 

William  Walters,  Capt.  M.  S.  K June   27,  1864 

Katie  Walters,  daughter  of  above June  26,  i860 

Ward  Miller,  child  of  Lieut.  T.  E.  Miller Sept.   25,  1862 

Robert  O.  Abbott,  Col.  and  Surgeon June    16,  1867 

T.  A.  H.  Gabel,  Lieut.  Batn.  Major  45th  U.  S. 

Infantry    Dec.     12,  1868 

Bessie  Auman,  child  of  Lieut.  Auman Febr.    19,  1875 

Joseph  Plympton,  Col.  ist  Inf'y.  )         No   date 

*removed  to  Woodlawn  Cemetery,  N.Y.C.  f  .Nov.     6,  1897 

Courtney,   child No   date 

Thomas  B.  Weir,  Captain  7th  U.  S.  Cavalry.  .Dec.      9,  1876 

Charles  McCormick,  Col.  and  Surgeon  U.  S.  A.  .Aprl.   28,  1877 

Officers  and  families 39 

Enlisted  men  and  their  families  known  are 169 

Enlisted  men  and  their  families  unknown  are. . .  191 

Military   convicts    4 

families    60 

Total    463 

*  From  National  Cemetery,  Cypress  Hills. 

89 


HISTORY   OF   GOVERNOR  S    ISLAND 

The  reinterment  of  officers  was  made  in  a  row  on  the  North 
side  of  the  Cemetery;  of  the  non-commissioned  officers  and 
privates  about  the  middle  of  the  Cemetery,  east  of  the  centre 
line. 

Among  the  stones  which  were  removed  from  Governor's 
Island  and  re-erected  in  1878  are  two  of  a  fine  brown  sand- 
stone, beautifully  cut  in  the  ancient  style  with  inscriptions 
which  are  given  here : 

SACRED  TO  THE  MEMORY  OF  WILLIAM  MCINTYRE, 
LATE  SERJEANT  IN  CAPT.  RICHARD  WHILEY's 
COMPANY  U.  S.  REGT,  OF  ARTILLERISTS,  WHO 
DEPARTED     THIS      LIFE      MAY      THE      I2TH      1808. 


The  other  is  in  memory  of 

HIRAM  ANDRUS 

OF  CO.  F,  4TH  REGT.  OF 

U,  S.  ARTILLERY 

WHO  DIED  AT  FORT  COLUMBUS 

JULY  ID,   1833. 


Another  of  white  marble,  with  a  non-commissioned  officer's 
sword  and  belt  carved  at  the  top  records  the  death  of 

SERGEANT  CHARLES  HENKE 

BORN  IN  DENMARK 

NOV.   12,   1794 

DIED  JAN'y   14,  1872 

AGED  78  YEARS 

IN  THE  5OTH  YEAR  OF  HIS  SERVICE  IN  THE 
U.  S.  ARMY 

90 


garrison  events  and  notes,  1868-i913 

List  of  Enlisted  Men  and  their  Families  and  Civilians 
Buried  on  Governor's  Island. 

■                                                 DATE  OF  DEATH 

William  Mclntyre,  Sergt.  U.  S.  Art'y May  12,  1868 

Ann  Snelling,  child Oct.  28,  181 5 

William  Patterson,  Sergt Sept.  3,  1826 

Catherine  Littlefield,  wife  of  Walter  Littlefield .  Aprl.  11,  1829 

William  Cherrington   July  10,  1830 

Adeline  M.  McGuire,  daughter  of  James  Mc- 

Guire    Oct.  3,  1830 

John  B.  Manning June  2,  1831 

Hiram  Andrus,  4th  U.  S.  Art'y Febr.  10,  1833 

Harman  L.  Hemstreet,  Music  Boys Mar.  7,  1833 

Douglas  Morrison,  child Dec.  19,  1833 

May  Morrison,  child Dec.  19,  1833 

Ann  E.  L.  Morrison Aug.  27,  1845 

Jane  Douglass,  wife  of  R.  Douglass Mar.  24,  1847 

George  W.  Douglass,  child  of  R.  Douglass. .  .,.Mar.  24,  1847 

William  F.  Fried,  child Oct.  31,  1848 

Wilhelmina  Fried  No  date 

John  Fried,  Sergt.  Co.  B,  Union  Boys Sept.  20,  1865 

John  Hughes,  Sergt.  4th  U.  S.  Art'y Jan.  7,  185 1 

Martha  Hughes,  wife  of  John  Hughes ,.Mar.  7,  1852 

Mary    ,    "our    Mary,"    child    of    John 

Hughes  (supposed)    No  date 

Charles  Stanley,  Musician Mar.  18,  1854 

Ann  Henke,  wife  of  Charles  Henke Sept.  2,  1856 

Charles  Henke,  Sergt.  Co.  B,  Music  Boys Jan.  14,  1872 

Esther  T.  Pfefferle,  child July  28,  1856 

Francis  Smith  Oct.  3,  1856 

David  L.  Walsh,  Sergt Jan.  9,  1857 

Jessie  Horan,  child May  15,  1861 

91 


i  HISTORY   OF   GOVERNOR  S    ISLAND 

DATE  OF  DEATH 

Ann  M.  Lowe,  child July  17,  1861 

Alexander  D.  Hoyt,  child May  29,  1861 

John   B.   Pinghard Feb.  28,  1856 

Maria  Pinghard,  wife  of  John  B.  Pinghard. .  .May  29,  1862 

Bridget  Stuart,  wife  of  Sergt.  Patk.  S.  Stuart. Aug.  12,  1868 
William  R.  Stuart,  child  of  Sergt.  Patk.  S. 

Stuart    May      5,  1863 

Mary  J.  Stuart,  child  of  Sergt.  Patk.  S.  Stuart. Apr.  28,  1868 

Rosanna  Stuart,  child  of  Sergt.  Patk.  S.  Stuart .  Aug.  22,  1868 

John  Haintz,  Sergt.  Ordnance,  U.  S.  A Feb.       i,  1864 

Julia  Haintz,  child  of  John  Haintz April  18,  1865 

Mary  Haintz,  child  of  John  Haintz No  date 

Fred  Haintz,  child  of  John  Haintz Sept.  25,  1870 

P.   H.   Guerin,   Sergt.   Co.  A,  Permt.  Party, 

U.  S.  A Feb.  23,  1864 

Emeline  Allen,  wife  of  G.  W.  Allen Apr.  16,  1864 

John  Henion,  Pv't  Co.  B,  Union  Boys Nov.  ai,  1864 

William   Head,   Sergt Apr.  24,   1865 

William  N.  Head,  child  of  Wm.  Head Nov.     3,  1865 

James    Casey,    Pv't    Co.    A,    Permt.    Party, 

U.  S.  A Aug.  13,  1866 

Hutchinson  M.  Howe,  Pv't.   Co.  A,  Permt. 

Party,  U.  S.  A Sept.  13,  1870 

Albert  Lagenboner,  child Jan.  24,  1877 

Gustav  N.  Lagenboner,  child Feb.      9,  1877 

Hannah   M.   Kieley June  12,  1861 

Patrick  Kieley,  child No  date 

Giles  D.  Taylor,  child July  15,  1869 

Winford  R.  Farlie,  child May  18,  1864 

George  H.  Arthur,  Pvt.  Co.  D,  Gen.  Serv., 

U.  S.  A Aug.  16,  1866 

92 


GARRISON   EVENTS  AND   NOTES,    1868-I913 

DATE  OF  DEATH 

William  Meredith,  Pvt.   Co.   D,   Gen.   Serv., 


U.  S.  A.. Aug.      5 

John  Moore,  Pvt.  Co.  D,  Gen.  Serv.,  U.  S.  A.. Aug.  3 
David    Lieberson,    Pvt.    Co.    D,    Gen.    Serv., 

U.  S.  A Aug.      8 

James  Smith,  Pvt.  Co.  D,  Gen.  Serv.,  U.  S.  A.. Aug.  6 
Thomas  Kelly,  Pvt.  Co.  D,  Gen.  Serv.,  U.  S.  A. .  Aug.  5 
Patrick  Riley,  Pvt.  Co.  D,  Gen.  Serv.,  U.  S.  A.  .July  28 
Rudolph   Kaimer,   Mus.   Co.   B,   Gen.    Serv., 

U.  S.  A July    20 

Charles   McKoon,    Pvt.    Co.    D,    Gen.    Serv., 

U.  S.  A July     15 

Robert  Wolf,  Pvt.  Co.  D,  Gen.  Serv.,  U.  S.  A..  Aug.  4 
Herbert    Dailey,    Pvt.    Co.    D,    Gen.    Serv., 

U.  S.  A July    21 

Elias  Morris,  Pvt.  Co.  D,  Gen.  Serv.,  U.  S.  A.  .July  24 
John    McHugh,    Pvt.    Co.    D,    Gen.    Serv., 

U.  S.  A July    25 

Thomas   Wheeler,   Pvt.    Co.   D,   Gen.    Serv., 

U.  S.  A July    30 

Thomas    Martin,    Pvt.    Co.    D,    Gen.    Serv., 

U.  S.  A July    30 

Isaac  J.   Robinson,  Pvt.   Co.  D,  Gen.   Serv., 

U.  S.  A July    28 

Peter    Glandon,    Pvt.    Co.    D,    Gen.    Serv., 

U.  S.  A July     i5 

James  Connors,  Prisoner July     15 

Francis  King,  Pvt.  Co.  D,  Gen.  Serv.,  U.  S.  A.  .July  13 
John    McMahon,    Pvt.    Co.    B,    Gen.    Serv., 

U.  S.  A July     18 

John  McColgan,  Mus.  Co.  B,  Gen.  Serv., 

U.  S.  A July  20 

93 


866 
866 

866 
866 
866 
866 

866 

866 
866 

866 
866 

866 

866 

866 

866 

866 
866 
866 

866 

866 


HISTORY  OF  GOVERNOR  S   ISLAND 

DATE  OF  DEATH 

Lawrence  Broderick,  Mus.  Co.  B,  Gen.  Serv., 

U.  S.  A July    20,  1866 

Frederick  W.  Johnson,  Pvt.  Co.  D,  Gen.  Serv., 

U.  S.  A July    ai,  1866 

Alexander    Wise,    Pvt.    Co.    D,    Gen.    Serv., 

U.  S.  A July     19,  1866 

Henry  Wier,  Pvt.  Co.  D,  Gen.  Serv.,  U.  S.  A.. July  31,  1866 
George    Rixford,    Pvt.    Co.    D,    Gen.    Serv., 

U.  S.  A July    26,    1866 

David   Ewing,   Prisoner   Co.   B,   Gen.   Serv., 

U.  S.  A Aug.     3,  1866 

David  Forney,  Pvt.  Co.  D,  Gen.  Serv.,  U.  S.  A. .  Sept.  28,  1866 
Fritz    Mathisson,    Pvt.    Co.    D,    Gen.    Serv., 

U.  S.  A Aug.    18,  1866 

Daniel   Dunford,    Mus.    Co.    B,    Gen.    Serv., 

U.   S.  A July    20,  1866 

Francis     Lurst,     Pvt.     Co.     D,    Gen.     Serv., 

U.   S.  A Aug.    II,  1866 

Monroe  McKelsey,  Pvt.  Co,  C,  Permt.  Party, 

U.  S.  A Aug.     7,  1866 

Carl  Gross,  Pvt.  Co.  D,  Gen.  Serv.,  U.  S.  A.  .Aug.  7,  1866 
Charles    Howe,    Pvt.    Co.    D,    Gen.     Serv., 

U.  S.  A Aug.     4,  1866 

Martin    Coster,    Pvt.    Co.    D,    Gen.     Serv., 

U.  S.  A Sept.    15,  1866 

Henry  Boyer,  Pvt.  Co.  D,  Gen.  Serv.,  U.  S.  A,  .Aug.  3,  1866 
Josiah  Harrison,  Mus.  Boys,  Co.  D,  Gen.  Serv., 

U.  S.  A July    20,  1866 

Emanuel  Ferguson,  Pvt.  9th  U.  S.  Inf'y July    23,  1866 

Abraham    Walk,    Pvt.    Co.    B,    Gen.    Serv., 

U.  S.  A July    31,  1866 

Joseph    Emerson,    Pvt.    Co.    D,    Gen.    Serv., 

U.  S.  A Aug.    ID,  1866 

94 


GARRISON    EVENTS    AND    NOTES,    1868-I9I3 

DATE  OF  DEATH 

John  R.  P.  Smith Aug.  i,  1866 

J.   Denanny    No  date 

James  Neland,  Pvt.  Co.  D,  Gen.  Serv.,  U.  S.  A. .  Sept.  26,  1866 
Christ.    Saltmeyer,   Pvt.   Co.    D,   Gen.    Serv., 

U.  S.  A Sept.  12,  1866 

Peter  Burke,  Pvt.  Co.  D,  Gen.  Serv.,  U.  S.  A.. Sept.  2G,  1866 

John  Bush,  Pvt.  Co.  D,  Gen.  Serv.,  U.  S.  A.. Sept.  17,  1866 

Lewis  T.  Young,  Pvt Jan.  3,  1856 

EHzabeth   G.    Ives July  7,1873 

Charles  Bessamore,  Co.  B,  Union  Boys June  20,  1861 

Frederick   O'Brien,   child Mar.  24,  1862 

Winifred  O'Brien,  child Mar.  27,  1862 

Fred.  Reynolds   Aug.  17,  1862 

•  Reynolds    No  date 

William  Gulick,  Sgt.  Co.  F,  Permt.  Party June  25,  1863 

Alexander  Moore,  Pvt.  Co.  M,  2d  U.  S.  Art'y.Sept.  24,  1861 

Franz  Hooper,  Pvt.  Co.  A,  Permt.  Party Apr.  28,  1865 

C.    McCormick,    Sgt.    Co.    A,    Permt.    Party, 

U.  S.  A Aug.  12,  1865 

F.  Holfriede,  Pvt.  Co.  F,  ist  U.  S.  Art'y-  -, Nov.  2,  1861 

Frederick   Grunert,   child July  11,  1872 

J.  Johnson,  Pvt.  Co.  C,  6th  U.  S.  Infty Dec.  25,  1861 

Walter  Kilborn,  Pvt.  Co.  K,  91st  N.  Y.  Infty.  .Jan.  5,  1862 

J.  Morrison,  Pvt.  Co.  G,  98th  N.  Y.  Infty Jan.  6,  1862 

W.  A.  Huckbonc,  Pvt.  Co.  I,  91st  N.  Y.  Infty.  .Jan.  9,  1862 

W.  McBride,  Pvt.  Co.  F,  Permt.  Party May  19,  1862 

John  Fish,  Pvt.  Co.  E,  91st  N.  Y.  Infty Jan.  17,  1862 

W.  Simmons,  Pvt.  Co.  I,  91st  N.  Y.  Infty. . .  .Jan.  30,  1862 
Joseph  or  James  Trumble,  Sgt.  Co.  G,  Permt. 

Party  Dec.  2,  1861 

David  Flecke,  Corp.  Co.  A,  Permt.  Party Dec.  16,  1861 

95 


HISTORY  OF  GOVERNOR  S   ISLAND 

DATE  OF  DEATH 

Francis  Shields,  Sgt.  Co.  I,  Permt.  Party Oct.  i,  1861 

Robertson,  woman No  date 

Grace  Robertson,  child No  date 

P.  Griffin,  Pvt.  Co.  H,  ist  U.  S.  Infty Feb.  20,  1862 

Alfred  Pitt,  Pvt.  Co.  E,  98th  N.  Y.  Infty Feb.  23,  1862 

Patrick  Conkly,  Pvt.  Co.  H,  28th  Alass.  Infty.  .Afar.  7,  1862 

James  Carr,  Musician Feb.  22,  1863 

Charles  Allen,  Corp.  Co.  K,  7th  N.  Y.  Infty. .  .Dec.  18,  1864 

Rudolph    Schaer,   child Sept.  15,  1867 

William  Muller,  Pvt.  Co.  D Mar.  6,  1866 

James  Kellog,  Gen.  Serv.,  U.  S.  A Sept.  19,  1867 

Fernando  Snyder,  Gen.  Serv.,  U.  S.  A Sept.  18,  1867 

Adelbert    Rogers,    Pvt.    Co.    D,    Gen.    Serv., 

U.  S.  A Sept.  16,  1867 

William    Swain,    Pvt.    Co.    D,    Gen.    Serv., 

U.  S.  A Sept.  14,  1867 

Christ.  Nolte,  Pvt.  Co.  D,  Gen.  Serv.,  U.  S.  A.. Sept.  6,  1867 
Adolph    Aikens,    Pvt.    Co.    C,    Gen.    Serv., 

U.  S.  A Sept.  II,  1867 

John  H.  Etzold,  Pvt.  Gen.  Serv.,  U.  S.  A Sept.  12,  1867 

Benjamin  Williams,  Pvt.  Co.  D,  Gen.  Serv., 

U.   S.  A Sept.  5,  1867 

John  Horan,  Recruit,  U.  S.  A Sept.  3,  1867 

Christ.    Liesbert,    Pvt.    Co.    D,    Gen.    Serv., 

U.   S.  A Sept.  I,  1867 

Henry  Peck,  Pvt.  Co.  D,  Gen.  Serv.,  U.  S.  A.. Sept.  5,  1867 

Edward  McLaughlin,  Pvt.  U.  R.  C,  U.  S.  A. . . Sept.  3,  1867 
Charles    Donnely,    Pvt.    Co.    B,    Gen.    Serv., 

U.    S.   A Sept.  I,  1867 

Frank    Gallagher,    Pvt.    Co.    D,    Gen.    Serv., 

U.    S.  A Aug.  31,  1867 

96 


GARRISON    EVENTS   AND    NOTES,    1868-I913 

DATE  OF  DEATH 

Francis    McKeon,    Pvt.    Co.   D,   Gen.    Serv., 

U.    S.   A Oct.      2,  1866 

Thomas    Patston,    Pvt.    Co.    D,    Gen.    Serv., 

U.    S.   A July    24,  1867 

James  Patston,  child  of  T.  Patston No  date 

Lewis    Vassell,    Pvt.    Co.     B,    Gen.     Serv., 

U.    S.   A Aug.     2,  1867 

Joseph    Recaid,    Recr.    Co.    D,    Gen.    Serv., 

U.  S.  A Aug.   31,  1867 

Oliver    Hersher,    Pvt.    Co.    D,    Gen.    Serv., 

U.  S.  A July      4>  1866 

William    Hilliers,    Pvt.    Co.    D,    Gen.    Serv., 

U.  S.  A Sept.     6,  1866 

Patrick  Hart,  Pvt.  Co.  D,  Gen.  Serv.,  U.  S.  A. .Aug.     8,  1866 
Frederick  Weil,  Prisoner,  Gen.  Serv.,  U.  S.  A.. Sept.    22,  1866 

Simon  S.  Schultz,  child Sept.    16,  1866 

P.  McGuire,  Pvt.  Co.  G,  28th  Mass.  Infty Feb.     19,  1862 

Henry    Shipley,    Pvt.    Co.    D,    Gen.    Serv.,  * 

U.  S.  A Oct.       3,  1866 

Andreas  P.  Karberg,  Pvt.  Co.  D,  Gen.  Serv., 

U.  S.  A Oct.      6,  1866 

Henry    Schlegel,    Pvt.    Co.    D,    Gen.    Serv., 

U.  S.  A Oct.     13,  1866 

Frank  Jones,  Pvt.  Co.  D,  Gen.  Serv.,  U.  S.  A.  .Oct.     15,  1866 
John    H.    Totten,    Pvt.    Co.    D,    Gen.    Serv., 

U.  S.  A Oct.     19,  1866 

John    Heberger,    Pvt.    Co.    D,    Gen.    Serv., 

U.  S.  A Oct.    20,  1866 

John     Sanberg,     Pvt.     Co.     D,     Gen.     Serv., 

U.  S.  A Oct.     27,  1866 

Frederick    Traub,    Pvt.    Co.    D,    Gen.    Serv., 

U.  S.  A Nov.     6,  1866 

97 


HISTORY  OF  governor's   ISLAND 

DATE  OF  DEATH 

Martin    Leonard,    Pvt.    Co,    D,    Gen.    Serv., 

U.  S.  A Dec.  4,  1866 

Edward   Tryer,   Pvt Feb.  2,  1867 

John  Jones,  Corp.  Co.  C,  Gen.  Serv.,  U.  S.  A.  .Mar.  27,  1867 

Louis  A.  Harry,  Pvt Apr.  6,  1867 

Andrew  Flickinger,  Pvt Apr.  15,  1867 

Thomas   McHiigh,   Pvt.   Co.   D,   Gen.   Serv., 

U.  S.  A Nov.  7,  1867 

John  Hooley,  Pvt.  ist  Prov.  Co.,  Gen.  Serv., 

U.  S.  A Apr.  14,  1869 

Thomas  Cryon,  Pvt.  Co.  C Aug.  25,  1868 

Patrick    Byrne,    Pvt.    Co.    E,    Gen.     Serv., 

U.  S.  A Apr.  25,  1868 

John    Kennedy,    Pvt.    Co.    A,    Gen.    Serv., 

U.  S.  A Jan.  3,  1868 

John  Burke,  Pvt.  Co.  A,  Gen.  Serv.,  U.  S.  A.  .Nov.  22,  1867 

John  Smith,  Pvt.  Co.  A,  Gen.  Serv.,  U.  S.  A..  .Oct.  29,  1867 
Charles    Huber,    Pvt.    Co.    D,    Gen.    Serv., 

U.  S.  A Oct.  8,  1867 

Frank  Burke,  Pvt.  Co,  A,  Gen.  Serv.,  U.  S,  A., Sept,  26,  1867 

Carl  Schaer,  Pvt.  Gen.  Serv.,  U.  S,  A Sept.  18,  1867 

Henry  Weber,  Pvt.  Co.  C,  Gen.  Serv.,  U.  S.  A. .Sept.  14,  1867 

George  Gass,  Pvt.  Co.  D,  Gen.  Serv.,  U.  S.  A.. Sept.  14,  1867 
Robert    F.    Jern,    Pvt.    Co.    C,    Gen.    Serv., 

U.  S.  A Sept.  II,  1867 

John  Hyler,  Pvt.  Gen.  Serv.,  U.  S.  A Sept.  10,  1867 

Thomas  McGrath,  Prisoner  Co.  B,  Gen.  Serv., 

U.  S.  A Sept.  9,  1867 

Thomas    Flynn,    Pvt.    Co.    D,    Gen,    Serv,, 

U.  S.  A Sept.  6,  1867 

Frank    Keckynar,    Pvt.    Co.    D,    Gen.    Serv., 

U.  S,  A Sept.  8,  1867 

98 


GARRISON   EVENTS   AND   NOTES,    1868-I913 

DATE  OF  DEATH 

James    C.    Elliot,    Pvt.    Co.    D,    Gen.    Serv., 

U.  S.  A Sept.  6,  1867 

Charles   Dillman,   Pvt.   Co.   B,   Union   Boys, 

U.  S.  A Sept.  29,  1865 

Andrew  T.  Ford,  Sergt.  Co.  C,  Permt.  Party, 

U.  S.  A Sept.  10.  1865 

Jacob  riaefele,   Sergt.   Co.   C,   Permt.   Party, 

U.  S.  A Apr.  20,  1873 

James   Bodgers,   child Jan.  15,  1878 

Magdalen  Stigler,  wife  of  Band  Master Mar.  11,  1878 

Ann  Monrifif   No  date 

George  E.  Ilanna,  child Oct.  28,  1861 

Samuel    Meades,    Pvt.    Co.    E,    Gen.    Serv.," 

U.  S.  A Apr.  26,  1871 

William    Gibson,    Pvt.    Co.    E,    Gen.    Serv., 

U.  S.  A Mar.  31,  1870 

Stephen   D.    Lockwood,   Pvt.   Co.   A,   Permt. 

Party,  U.  S.  A Feb.  20,  1870 

Ellen   Farrell,  child Apr.  11,  1862 

Mela   Reynolds,   child Aug.  25,  1873 

Chris  Marlin,  Pvt.  Co.  B,  Music  Boys May  23,  1873 

William  McFarland,  Pvt.  Co.  E,  Gen.  Serv., 

U.  S.  A Sept.  16,  1870 

Peter  Luck,  Pvt.  Co.  E,  Gen.  Serv.,  U.  S.  A.. Aug.  i,  1870 
James    Kelcher,    Pvt.     Co.    E,    Gen.     Serv., 

U.  S.  A June  24,  1870 

Francis  Bungent,  Pvt.  Co.  D,  Select  Recruits.  .Apr.  12,  1870 

William  Seery,  Pvt.  Co.  E,  Gen.  Serv.  Recr. .  .Feb.  18,  1872 

TTenry  Carroll,  Pvt.  Co.  E,  Gen.  Serv.  Recr.  .  .Jan.  i,  1872 

William   F.   Curtis,   Pvt.   Co.   E,   Gen.    Serv. 

Recruit    Aug.    27,  1871 

Joseph  Villenger,  Pvt.  Co.  E,  Gen.  Serv.  Recr.  .Jan.     18,  1871 

99 


HISTORY  OF  GOVERNOR  S   ISLAND 

DATE  OF  DEATH 

Thomas  Sullivan,  Pvt.  Co.  E,  Gen.  Serv.  Recr..Sept.  25,  1870 

Henry  Rathkamp,  Pvt.  Co.  A,  Permt,  Party. .  .Sept.  27,  1870 

Henry  Bennett,  Pvt.  Co.  B,  Music  Boys Oct.  i,  1870 

Patrick  Daley,  Pvt.  Co.  E,  Gen.  Serv Feb.  8,  1871 

Willet  C.  West,  Fifer  Co.  B,  Music  Boys Mar.  25,  187 1 

Michael  Kinsell,  Pvt.  Co.  E,  Gen.  Serv.  Rets.  .May  7,  1871 

James  Colgan,  Pvt.  Co.  E,  Gen.  Serv.  Rets Mar.  5,  1872 

Patrick  Golden,  Pvt.  Co.  E,  Gen.  Serv.  Rets.  .  .May  25,  1872 

Peter  Storms,  Sergt.  Co.  A,  Permt.  Party Oct.  19,  1863 

Lizzie  Corliss  Lynch,  child No  date 

Daniel   Nowlan,   child No  date 

John  C.   Indale,  child No  date 

Alfred  B.  Haynes,  Pvt.  Co.  B,  Music  Boys.  . .  .July  23,  1873 

Julius  Steinman,  Pvt.  Co.  E,  Gen.  Serv.  Rets.  .Oct.  24,  1873 

Michael  ^orrissey,  Pvt.  Co.  C,  22d  U.  S.  Infty .  Aug.  20,  1872 

Albert  O.  Dennis,  Pvt.  Co.  E,  Gen.  Serv.  Rets.. Mar.  29,  1872 

Justus  Schlessing,  Pvt.  Co.  E,  Gen.  Serv.  Rets. Mar.  13,  1872 

Henry  Christopher,  Pvt.  Co.  C,  Permt.  Party.  .Jan.  8,  1872 

William  Skelly,  Pvt.  Co.  M,  5th  U.  S.  Arty.  .  .Dec.  17,  1871 

Robert  Scott,  Pvt.  Co.  A,  Permt.  Party June  10,  1871 

Jacob  Mertins,  Sergt.  Co.  A,  Permt.  Party.  . .  .Sept.  19,  1870 

Patrick  Leonard,  Corp.  Co.  C,  Permt.  Party.  .  .Sept.  17,  1870 

Ernest  Dallye,  Pvt.  Co.  A,  Permt.  Party Sept.  13,  1870 

Peter  Creamer,  Corp.  Co.  B,  Music  Boys vSept.  10,  1870 

Confederate  Prisoners  of  War. 

J.  E.  Barbury,  Co.  D,  28th  N.  Carolina June  7,  1862 

Hosea  G.  Blount,  Co.  F,  7th  N.  Carolina Sept.  29,  1861 

David  L.  Rodgeron,  Co.  F,  7th  N.  Carolina.  .  .Oct.  8,  1861 

M.  G.  Roberson,  Co.  F,  7th  N.  Carolina Oct.  11,  1861 

100 


GARRISON    EVENTS   AND    NOTES,    1868-I9I3 

DATE  OF  DEATH 

Stephen  Kite,  Co.  G,  7th  N.  Carolina Oct.  27,  1861 

Saml.  D,  Titterton,  Co.  F,  7th  N.  Carolina Oct.  29,  1861 

Simpson,  Co.  F,  7th  N.  Carolina Nov.  19,  1861 

Alpha  Modlin    Nov.  24,  1861 

Jennings   Mar.  11,  1862 

Smith  Bartley   May  30,  1862 

G.  Townsend,  Pvt.  Co.  E,  27th  N.  Carolina. .  .June     3,  1862 


In  the  early  days  Governor's  Island  must  have  been  a  dark 
place  after  retreat.  Up  to  1854  candles  were  the  only  source 
of  illumination.  Later,  whale  oil  was  introduced  and  then 
kerosene.  Until  1878,  when  General  Hancock  made  his  head- 
quarters here,  there  were  no  street  lights  at  all,  except  one 
light  at  the  dock,  a  condition  which  was  not  so  brilliant  as  that 
enjoyed  by  New  York  in  1697,  when  the  Common  Council 
ordered  the  city  to  be  lighted  by  lanterns  from  poles  that  pro- 
jected from  every  seventh  house. 

The  Common  Council,  at  a  stated  meeting  held  at  the  House 
of  John  Simmons,  Innholder  at  the  N.  W.  corner  of  Wall  and 
Nassau  Streets  (now  the  site  of  the  Bankers'  Trust  Building) 
on  the  17th  day  of  February,  1784,  issued  a  Warrant  No.  15 
to  Wm.  Deal  and  others  for  lighting  the  City  lamps,  to  the 
amount  of  £21  5s. 

Electric  lighting  was  introduced  on  May  10,  1904.  The 
Arsenal  at  that  time  had  and  for  some  time  later  continued 
to  use  acetylene  gas  manufactured  at  a  private  plant  in  the 
Yard. 

Dances  were  held  in  various  places  at  various  times:  at  one 
time  in  the  present  Administration  Building;  in  the  Hospital 
(now  Dept  Headquarters  Building),  where  the  Grand  Duke 
Alexis  of  Russia  was  entertained  in  1872,  a  marquee  being 
erected  in  front ;  at  one  time  in  the  present  Q.  M.  Storehouse, 
east  side  of  Island,  and  later,  as  now,  in  the  Officers'  Club 
House,  Corbin  Hall. 

xoi 


HISTORY   OF   GOVERNORS    ISLAND 

The  water  supply  was  in  those  days  a  troublesome  question. 
Surgeon  Page  in  his  history  (1868)  writes: 

"The  wells  are  four  in  nmnber.  One  is  in  Castle  Williams 
and  furnishes  a  small  supply  of  tolerably  good  water.  It 
dries  in  ten  minutes  and  requires  some  time  to  refill.*  An- 
other well  is  in  front  of  Fort  Columbus,  but  unfit  for  drinking 
purposes.  Another  is  near  the  Hospital  (now  Department 
Headquarters)  and  is  the  best  and  most  used  on  the  Island, 
all  the  animals  being  watered  at  this  well." 

Water  from  the  City  (Ridgewood)  was  introduced  by  mains 
under  Buttermilk  Channel  about  1880,  soon  after  General 
Hancock's  arrival. 

The  Hospital  mentioned  in  this  report  is  the  Hospital  of 
1868,  now  (191 3)  Eastern  Department  Hdqrs.  The  pump 
connected  with  this  well  was  in  situ,  handle  and  all,  as  late  as 
1905.  Another  well  not  mentioned  was  in  the  Arsenal  Yard. 
This  was  quite  a  pretty  spot,  arranged  in  the  nature  of  a 
spring  house,  with  a  flight  of  stone  steps  going  down  and  a 
little  arbour  to  protect  it  from  the  sun." 

A  well  of  pure  water  in  South  Battery  is  also  mentioned  by 
Surgeon  Page,  who  goes  on  to  say  that  rain  water  is  collected 
from  the  roofs  of  nearly  all  the  buildings  in  cisterns.  No 
attempts  were  made  to  sink  artesian  wells  on  account  of  the 
geological  formation  and  great  dip  of  the  strata.  In  this  con- 
nection it  may  be  interesting  to  mention  the  natural  history  of 
Governor's  Island. 

"The  basic  rock  of  the  Island  is  gneiss  composed  of  quartz, 
feldspar  and  mica  arranged  in  laminae,  the  rock  being  strati- 
fied and  hypozoic,  covered  with  alluvial  and  drift  deposit. 
The  direction  of  the  stratum  corresponds  with  N.  S.  and  the 
dip,  though  generally  to  the  west,  averages  within  10°  vertical. 
The  water  now  in  use,  derived  from  shallow  wells,  is  hard  and 
contains  a  great  quantity  of  organic  matter.  The  high  angle 
dip  and  deep  surrounding  channels  make  good  water  unattain- 
able. The  alluvial  deposits  consist  of  loam,  clay,  sand  and 
gravel.     The  drift  is  composed  of  abraded  boulders,  gravel 

*It  was  more  efficient  in  1812  (v.  p.  72). 
102 


GARRISON    EVENTS   AND    NOTES,    1868-I9I3 

and  sand  and  all  were  driven  probably  by  ice  pressure.  The 
alluvial  and  diluvial  deposits  are  probably  lOO  feet  deep  at  the 
N.  and  S.  ends." 

The  Island  was  undoubtedly  separated  from  the  mainland 
during  the  Glacial  period. 

Circular  No.  8  (1875)  states  that  the  cisterns  frequently 
ran  dry.  At  these  times  they  were  cleaned  and  fumigated  and 
filled  with  Croton  water  brought  from  the  City  in  tanks  of 
Quartermaster  boats. 

These  cisterns  are  being  gradually  filled.  A  number  were 
filled  from  the  excavations  of  the  new  Chapel  in  1905-6. 

The  use  of  the  drum  for  calls  was  given  up  about  1876. 
There  is  a  tradition  that  the  last  official  drum  hung  in  the  tree 
where  it  was  kept  for  a  year  or  so  after  that  time.  An  officer 
has  told  the  author  he  remembers  seeing  it  so  on  several  occa- 
sions. 

A  marked  depression  in  the  surface  of  the  Park  near  the 
fountain  often  arouses  curiosity,  as  to  what  it  represents  in 
the  otherwise  level  surface  of  the  ground. 

Major  Kendall,  a  veteran  of  the  War  of  1812,  lived  on 
Governor's  Island  after  retirement  with  his  daughters  and  held 
the  position  of  Sutler.  His  residence  was  at  the  western 
end  of  a  long  row  of  houses  that  stretched  from  the  present 
Post  Quartermaster's  office  and  carpenter  shop  to  what  is  now 
No.  18,  Colonels'  Row. 

This  row  was  of  wooden  houses,  one  story  in  height,  with 
cellar,  and  besides  the  Sutler  and  his  store  accommodated  a 
number  of  soldiers  and  their  families. 

According  to  tradition,  these  buildings  were  erected  for  the 
accommodation  of  the  builders  of  Fort  Jay  after  the  American 
Revolution.  Some  believe  they  represent  the  English  occupa- 
tion of  1776-1783.*  The  beams  and  all  the  wood  were  of  very 
heavy  construction.  Some  were  burned  down  in  1856,  and  the 
rest  were  removed  after  the  yellow  fever  epidemic  in  1870.  In 
removing  them  it  was  found  inconvenient  to  fill  in  all  the  cellars, 

♦This  is  confirmed  by  the  fact  that  the  group  of  buildings  as  late  as 
1850  was  called  "Rotten  Row." 

103 


HISTORY   OF   GOVERNOR  S    ISLAND 

the  supply  of  earth  being  limited.  The  depression  alluded  to 
marks  this  ancient  row  and  probably  Major  Kendall's  quarters. 

Major  Kendall,  upon  the  burning  of  his  quarters  in  1856, 
moved  to  quarters  in  the  S.  E.  angle  of  the  barracks,  Fort 
Columbus. 

The  condition  of  the  works  on  Bedlow's  and  Ellis'  Island 
and  of  the  fortification  at  the  Battery  may  be  learned  from 
Colonel  Williams'  Report  of  Jan'y  19,  1810,  in  which  he  says 
Ellis  Island  mounts  8  32  pdrs.  with  a  platform  capable  of 
mounting  20;  that  Bedlow's  Battery  is  ready  for  8  or  10 
mortars,  with  the  main  work  of  40  guns  half  completed,  and 
that  by  July  the  first  tier  of  a  castle  at  the  Old  Battery  will  be 
completed,  mounting  30  of  the  heaviest  guns.  This  castle  was 
at  first  officially  known  as  the  South  West  Battery,  after  the 
war  as  Castle  Clinton,  whence  its  peaceful  designation  of 
Castle  Garden  was  derived. 

In  1822  Castle  Clinton  was  ceded  by  the  Government  to  the 
City  of  New  York,  and  the  soldiery  were  removed  to  Gover- 
nor's Island.  At  this  time  and  for  many  years  following 
Castle  Clinton  was  separated  from  the  shore  by  a  channel  and 
access  was  had  by  a  long  wooden  bridge. 

In  addition  to  its  military  uses  Governor's  Island  served  as 
a  flagging  station  to  report  the  arrival  of  ships  before  the  in- 
vention of  the  telegraph.  New  York's  most  famous  hotel  in 
1823  was  Holt's,  afterward  the  United  States  Hotel,  on  Fulton 
Street.  This  hotel  had  a  lofty  cupola  in  which  a  ship  signal 
station  was  located.  When  ships  were  sighted  at  Sandy  Hook 
the  news  was  flagged  to  Staten  Island,  from  Staten  Island  to 
Governor's  Island,  the  station  being  probably  at  the  Castle, 
and  from  there  to  the  station  on  Holt's  Hotel  for  the  benefit 
of  the  whole  City. 

In  Wall's  painting  of  the  Castle  (frontispiece")  appears  on 
the  parapet  a  cupola  which  it  is  reasonable  to  suppose  was  the 
ship  signal  station. 

Old  pictures  of  the  Castle,  though  later  than  this  painting, 
show  a  flag  flying  from  a  staflf  erected  in  the  middle  of  the 
courtyard.    This  flag  was  used  25  years  ago  for  saluting  and 

104 


GARRISON    EVENTS   AND    NOTES,    1868-I913 

Other  special  purposes  only,  the  garrison  flag  being  at  Fort 
Jay.  The  staff  was  removed  about  20  years  ago.  The  guns, 
except  those  on  the  parapet,  were  removed  about  the  same 
time. 

In  182 1  Fort  Cokimbus  was  garrisoned  by  a  battery  of  the 
ist  Artillery  under  the  command  of  Lieut.  Peter  Melendy,  Jr.* 
It  is  not  known  what  troops  garrisoned  Governor's  Island 
upon  its  occupation  in  1809.  In  1826,  Bvt.  Colonel  W,  Mac- 
Rea,  2nd  Artillery,  was  in  command. 

In  1832,  thorough  repairs  of  the  works  were  begun  and  prose- 
cuted until  August,  when  the  work  was  abandoned  on  account 
of  the  cholera.  In  September,  1832,  new  barracks  were  begun 
within  the  fort,  some  of  the  troops  having  previously  en- 
camped on  the  parade.  The  scarp  wall,  the  counter  scarp 
revetments  and  the  revetments  of  the  glacis  were  completed, 
also  the  facing  of  the  covered  way  revetment  leading  from 
Fort  Columbus  to  the  Castle. 

In  this  year  the  Post  was  re-occupied  by  Battery  F,  4th 
Artillery,  under  command  of  Captain  L.  Whiting.  In  Sep- 
tember Captain  W.  W.  Tompkins  with  a  large  detachment 
of  recruits  of  the  2nd  Dragoons  arrived  and  assumed  com- 
mand. 

In  1833  the  sum  of  $50,000  was  appropriated  for  repairs  to 
Castle  Williams  and  Fort  Columbus.  How  this  was  expended 
so  far  as  the  fort  is  concerned  we  learn  from  the  report  of 
Capt.  J.  L.  Smith,  Corps  of  Engineers,  who  writes  under  date 
of  Oct.  19,  1833  (condensed)  : 

"The  scarp  and  curtain  are  finished.  The  counter  scarp 
and  revetment  of  the  glacis  are  finished  except  the  W.  front. 
The  passage  way  through  the  postern  is  raised  to  the  height 
of  the  spring  of  the  arch.  Four  cisterns,  of  4,000  gallons  each 
are  finished  under  the  rampart.  Four  more  are  to  be  made. 
The  redan  with  casemated  flanks  on  the  N.  front  was  formerly 
approached  from  the  parade  through  a  gap  in  the  rampart. 
The  gap  has  been  filled  by  a  ma,gazine. 

The  part  of  the  hollow  passage  near  the  salient  of  the  redan 

•For  full  list  of  Commanding  Officers  (v.  p.  i6i). 
105 


HISTORY   OF   GOVERNOR  S   ISLAND 

is  to  be  occupied  by  two  magazines  for  fixed  ammunition  or 
storage.  This  will  enlarge  the  terreplain  and  the  salient  of 
the  redan.  The  parapets  are  sodded  and  the  glacis  is  being 
graduated." 

Other  additions  and  repairs  to  the  Castle  and  Fort  were 
made  in  1836,  for  which  were  appropriated  $20,000. 

Company  B  of  the  permanent  party  called  the  "music  boys," 
a  detachment  of  recruits  for  the  field  music  of  the  army,  occu- 
pied the  South  Battery.  On  Dec.  28,  1836,  the  troops  in  gar- 
rison, with  the  exception  of  the  recuits  of  the  2nd  Dragoons, 
were  ordered  to  Florida  for  the  Seminole  War. 

On  April  18,  1837,  a  battery  of  the  ist  Artillery  under  Capt. 
J.  Dimick  occupied  the  post  and  Fort  Columbus  continued  to 
be  an  Artillery  Post  until  November  15,  1852,  when  Gover- 
nor's Island  became  a  General  Recruiting  Depot  vice  Fort 
Wood,  pursuant  to  Genl.  Orders  No.  38,  Series  of  1852,  A.  G. 
Office. 


GARRISON    EVENTS   AND    NOTES,    1868-I9I3 

The  Post  was  at  once  occupied  by  Battery  A,  1st  Artillery, 
under  command  of  Capt.  Joseph  P.  Sanger,  the  garrison  being 
shortly  afterwards  strengthened  by  Battery  D,  of  the  same 
Regiment. 

From  the  Adjutant  General's  Notes  we  learn  that  a  new 
Barbette  battery  was  built  in  the  8o's.  This  extended  from  the 
neighborhood  of  the  Post  Chapel  N.  W.  across  the  Parade 
towards  the  Castle.  It  mounted  a  few  guns  and  a  modern 
earthwork  battery  was  begun  but  not  completed,  and  the  entire 
battery  was  removed  about  1893.* 

Plans  were  drawn  as  early  as  1869  for  a  "New  Barbette 
Battery"  to  cross  the  parade  from  the  Castle  S.  E.  to  the 
Colonels'  Row,  but  this  was  for  some  reason  never  begun. 

In  June,  1892,  the  armament  of  this  Post,  as  given  by  the 
Adjutant  General,  was: 

Thirty-six  lo-inch  Rodman  guns,  five  15-inch  Rodman 
guns,  two  8-inch  siege  howitzers,  five  loo-pdr.  Parrott  guns, 
two  4^-inch  rifles,  two  24-pdr.  Coehorn  mortars,  two  8-incli 
siege  mortars,  two  lo-inch  siege  mortars,  one  13-inch  sea 
coast  mortar.  Field  Artillery — three  Catling  guns,  long  bar- 
rel, caliber  45. 

No  continuous  records  exist  to  show  the  dates  of  the  various 
buildings  on  the  Island  except  the  fortifications.  The  best 
available  data  at  present  indicate  the  building  dates  about  as 
follows : 

The  Administration  Building — date  unknown — probably 
about  1840, 

The  Post  Headquarters  Building  is  believed  to  be  of  some 
antiquity.  As  stated  elsewhere,  the  old  name  for  it  was  "The 
Governor's  House,"  whicb,  if  historically  correct,  would  take 
it  back  to  1775  at  the  least.  As  late  as  1872  and  later  it  was 
used  for  the  main  guard.f 

The  Commissary  Building,  1845,  ^^^  the  Commanding  Gen- 
eral's Quarters,   1840. 

*  Remains  of  this  battery  were  discovered  in  the  Summer  of  1910,  when 
the  salt-water  mains  were  laid  across  the  Island, 
t  See  p.  174. 

X07 


HISTORY   OF   GOVERNOR  S    ISLAND 

Numbers  2-5  inclusive,  General's  Row,  1855-7. 

Other  quarters  in  General's  Row,  1875. 

Colonels'  Row — Various  periods — 1875,  1878,  1888  and 
1905. 

Old  Hospital — Main  wing,  now  (1913)  used  as  Eastern 
Dept.  Headquarters,  1840. 

Regimental  (Brick)  Row,  1889  to  1908  (various  dates). 

New  Hospital,  1880. 

South  Battery,  1812. 

A  tradition  that  this  Battery  was  erected  in  1834  arose 
probably  from  the  fact  that  a  second  story  was  added  to  it  in 
that  year.  This  upper  story  was  in  red  brick.  The  lower 
story  was  painted  yellow,  and  for  several  years  this  striking 
artistic  effect  prevailed.  At  some  period,  perhaps  the  same, 
the  outer  walls  of  the  Battery,  built  of  the  Newark  sand- 
stone used  for  Castle  Williams,  were  treated  to  a  similar 
wash,  which  is  happily  disappearing  under  the  kindly  in- 
fluence of  Nature. 

Second  addition  to  South  Battery  (Corbin  Hall),  1904. 

The  present  Officers'  Club  (South  Battery)  was  used  as  a 
Club  house  first  about  1879.  No  records  are  available  to  show 
the  date  of  the  foundation  of  the  Club.  A  tradition  lingers 
that  General  Schofield  was  the  founder  of  the  Club,  but  this 
cannot  be  verified. 

Previous  to  that  time  at  various  periods  dances  had  been 
given  in  the  (present)  Administration  Building  (west  end), 
the  old  Hospital,  and  in  the  (present)  Quartermaster's  Store 
House  adjoining  the  Post  Quartermaster's  Office.  The  wooden 
wings  of  the  Hospital  of  1840  were  built  in  1862  and  used 
as  a  General  Hospital  during  the  Civil  War.  The  School 
House  and  Printing  and  Telegraph  Offices  are  reminders  of 
this  War  Hospital. 

Circular  No.  4  (1870)  mentions  a  married  quarters  near  the 
old  brick  Hospital,  and  states  that  the  Post  Cemetery  referred 
to  elsewhere  consisted  of  about  half  an  acre. 

An  engineer  map  of  1857  shows  a  pump  in  the  courtyard 
of  the  Castle  just  15  feet  south  of  the  centre. 

108 


GARRISON   EVENTS   AND   NOTES,    1868-I9I3 

As  late  as  1870  there  was  in  the  courtyard  of  the  Castle  a 
reminder  of  the  Civil  War  time  in  a  long  wooden  building 
used  as  a  mess  hall  and  kitchen  for  recruits.  The  upper  tiers 
of  the  Castle  were  used  as  recruit  quarters  during  the  re- 
cruiting period,  1852- 1878.  The  wooden  building  in  the 
Castle  was  60  x  30  feet  and  had  a  roof-pitch  of  8  feet.  It 
contained  three  small  store-rooms  and  was  furnished  with 
two  doors  and  ten  windows. 

A  reference  to  this  is  found  under  date  of  Deer.  7th,  1871, 
when  permission  was  asked  to  remove  the  powder  from  the 
magazines  in  the  Castle  and  to  store  it  in  the  Post  magazines 
on  the  ground  that  "the  fires  kept  in  a  wooden  building  used 
as  a  mess  room  and  kitchen  renders  the  opening  and  closing 
of  the  magazines  dangerous." 

In  spite  of  the  apprehension  expressed  in  1871,  the  powder 
remained  till  after  the  arrival  of  General  Hancock,  when  it 
was  removed  from  the  Island  except  that  which  is  stored  in 
the  Garrison  magazine  on  the  west  glacis  of  Fort  Jay. 

This  magazine  in  the  midst  of  traffic,  passed  monthly  by 
thousands,  is  probably  not  visited  annually  by  a  half  dozen, 
and  yet  it  is,  next  to  the  Castle,  the  oldest  building  in  undis- 
turbed condition  on  Governor's  Island,  and  is  worth,  for  that 
reason,  a  few  words  of  description. 

This  little  magazine  on  the  west  glacis  slope  is  a  stone  build- 
ing with  a  stone  dove-tailed  roof  and  double  walls,  the  interior 
ones  of  brick  with  ventilating  apertures  arranged  to  avoid 
the  outside  windows.  The  interior  sheathing  of  the  magazine 
is  one  inch  white  pine.  On  the  north  side  is  a  ventilating  win- 
dow which  at  some  period  was  bricked  up  and  cemented.  The 
wooden  inside  door  is  furnished  with  fine  copper  bolts.  The 
interior  ceiling  is  of  heavy  rough-hewn  oak  beams.  On  these 
beams  are  painted  in  black  a  number  of  names  and  initials  of 
an  early  period,  showing  the  magazine  to  date  from  at  least 
the  period  of  the  Castle,  1807-11,  and  probably  earlier,  as  the 
Castle  had  its  own  magazines  and  Fort  Jay  was  (in  part)  of 
earlier  construction.     These  names  are  painted  in  bold  char- 


109 


HISTORY   OF   governor's   ISLAND 

acters  and  some  of  them  are  of  artistic  excellence.     Among 
them  are 

W  H  1812 

C   M    1812 
C  F  Morton  181 5 

This  magazine  is  at  present  used  for  the  storage  of  saluting 
powder.  It  is  surrounded  by  a  fence  of  venerable  appearance 
which  is  believed  to  have  done  picket  duty  long  enough  to 
entitle  it  to  honourable  mention.  The  warning  sign  over  the 
door,  though  frequently  renewed,  also  shows  evidence  of 
antiquity  in  the  lettering  employed. 

Other  powder  magazines  are  to  be  found  in  Fort  Jay  in  the 
north  side  of  the  barrack  square.  These  magazines  are  on  the 
right  and  left  of  the  enclosed  area  under  the  ramparts.  They 
have  copper  ventilators  and  barred  entrances.  In  magazines 
Nos.  2  and  6  are  inside  wooden  doors,  grated,  with  small 
wooden  trap  doors  near  the  top  secured  by  a  button  on  the 
outside.  These  have  no  value  for  purposes  of  ventilation  and 
it  is  believed  that  at  one  period  the  magazines  were  used  for 
prisoners  and  that  the  traps  were  for  passing  in  food. 

During  the  Civil  War  a  double  guarded  cell  was  maintained 
in  what  is  now  the  basement  of  K  Co.,  29th  Infantry.  This 
consisted  of  an  outside  cell  in  which  'the  guard  was  locked  in 
and  an  inner  one  for  the  prisoner.  One  or  more  celebrated 
Confederate  officers  were  imprisoned  here  before  execution, 
including  Captain  John  G.  Beall,  a  Naval  officer,  who  with 
two  others,  captured  the  S.S.  "Philo  Parsons"  and  S.S.  "Island 
Queen."    His  execution  took  place  February  24,  1865. 

An  historical  account  of  Governor's  Island  would  not  be 
complete  without  reference  to  its  oldest  inhabitant,  to  whom 
the  author  of  this  work  wishes  to  express  his  thanks  for  many 
notes  of  historical  interest. 

Sergeant  David  Robertson,  Hospital  Steward,  U.  S.  A., 
entered  the  Army  in  July,  1854,  and  has  served  continuously 
in  the  Hospital  Corps  for  59  years. 

Such  length  of  service  is  almost  unprecedented,  and  when  it 


GARRISON   EVENTS   AND   NOTES,    1868-I913 

is  combined  with  unbroken  duty  in  one  Garrison  it  deserves 
more  than  passing  mention.  In  addition  to  his  length  of  ser- 
vice, Doctor  Robertson  has  endeared  himself  to  thousands  of 
officers  and  their  famiHes  by  his  kindly  nature  as  well  as  by 
his  professional  skill  of  high  order  which  has  been  unsparingly 
given  to  all  who  needed  his  care,  commanding  Generals,  offi- 
cers of  every  rank,  soldiers  and  civilians  for  nearly  sixty  years 
of  service,  during  three  epidemics  of  cholera  and  two  of  yel- 
low fever,  besides  the  innumerable  cases,  surgical  and  medical, 
that  have  been  submitted  to  his  skillful  treatment. 

While  Doctor  Robertson  has  been  retired  with  full  pay  and 
allowances  he  still  remains  (1913)  on  active  duty,  where  his 
friends  hope  long  to  find  him. 

Doctor  Robertson  and  his  wife  lived  for  many  years  in  their 
cottage  near  the  Chapel  in  the  midst  of  an  old-fashioned 
garden  that  was  one  of  the  sights  of  Governor's  Island.  Mrs. 
Robertson  was  the  daughter  of  Lieutenant  Michael  Moore, 
who  was  born  July  4,  1800,  and  enlisted  in  1812  for  the  War, 
He  retired  in  1871  after  many  years  of  meritorious  service 
on  Governor's  Island. 

Thus  these  two  officers  in  one  family  represent  in  their  own 
persons  118  years  of  active  service. 

The  little  group  of  Lombardy  poplar  trees  still  left  (191 3) 
at  the  edge  of  the  Arsenal  Yard  is  a  reminder  of  a  forest  that 
adorned  Manhattan  and  Governor's  Islands  100  years  ago  and 
should  be  viewed  with  the  respect  due  to  the  survivors  of  an 
ancient  race.  The  poplar  was  largely  used  in  the  i8th  cen- 
tury for  the  beautifying  of  the  city.  Guernsey  tells  us  in  his 
book,  "New  York  in  the  War  of  1812,"  that  Broadway  was 
literally  lined  with  them  on  both  sides  from  Bowling  Green  to 
Sailors'  Snug  Harbour  (loth  Street)  and  that  they  were  found 
along  the  streets  and  lanes  of  the  City  and  in  the  door-yards 
of  the  homes.  Paintings  of  that  i)eriod  sliow  Governor's 
Island  with  a  lordly  crown  of  stately  poplars  from  its  Eastern 
to  its  Western  end,  notably  the  "Wall  View,"  by  Wm.  C. 
Wall,  1823,  now  the  property  of  Mr.  Wm.  Havermeyer.  An- 
other view  by  Wall,  belonging  to  the  same  family,  painted  in 


HISTORY  OF  governor's  ISLAND 

1820,  shows  Castle  Williams  with  the  surf  breaking  at  its 
base  and  a  sentry  in  uniform  of  the  1812  period.*  Drawings 
and  paintings  of  Governor's  Island  by  Chapman,  Wood, 
Howell,  Stubbs,  Stevenson  and  Bachman  in  the  30's  and  40's 
also  show  the  long  regimental  line  of  poplars  now  shrunken 
to  the  dimensions  of  a  squad,  but  well  worth  notice,  both  for 
their  dignified  beauty  and  for  the  story  they  tell  us  of  the  days 
when  old  New  York  was  young.  John  W.  Francis  in  his 
''Old  New  York"  says  the  Lombardy  Poplar  was  found  in 
great  abundance  in  1800-1805  and  that  it  was  introduced  in 
New  York  under  direction  of  Louis  XVI,  who  sent  out  the 
elder  Michaux  from  the  Jardin  des  Plantes  accompanied  by  a 
gardener,  Paul  Sanier,  who  spread  the  poplar  everywhere. 

The  old  name  of  Jay,  which  had  been  discontinued  about 
the  year  1810,  was  restored  in  1904,  according  to  the  following 
order : 

General  Orders.  War  Department, 

No.  18.  Washington,  January  25,  1904. 

The  following  order  is  published  to  the  Army  for  the 
information  and  guidance  of  all  concerned — 

War  Department, 
Washington,  January  20,  1904. 
The  fortification  on  Governor's  Island,  New  York 
Harbor,  partly  built  1794- 1795,  enlarged  and  completed 
1798-1801,  and  partly  rebuilt  1806-1808,  now  known  as 
Fort  Columbus,  is  hereby  restored  to  its  original  name 
of  Fort  Jay ;  and  the  said  fortification  and  the  Military 
post  located  on  the  said  Island  will  hereafter  be  known 
and  designated  as  Fort  Jay. 

Elihu  Root, 

Secretary  of  War. 

The  change  of  name  from  Jay  to  Columbus  is  supposed  to 
have  been  due  to  Jay's  temporary  unpopularity  with  the  Re- 
publication party,  which  was  not  satisfied  with  the  Jay  Treaty 
with  England  (1794).     The  treaty,  however,  proved  its  value, 

*  (Frontispiece.) 


^  GARRISON    EVENTS   AND    NOTES,    1868-I913 

and  Jay  was  twice  elected  Governor  of  New  York  after  its 
adoption. 

The  restoration  of  the  original  name  is  a  graceful  recog- 
nition of  the  splendid  character  of  the  man  of  whom  Daniel 
Webster  said:  "When  the  spotless  ermine  of  the  judicial 
robe  fell  on  John  Jay  it  touched  nothing  less  spotless  than 
itself." 

Buttermilk  Channel, 

The  question  of  the  early  condition  of  what  we  now  call 
Buttermilk  Channel  has  been  for  many  years  an  interesting 
one.  References  to  the  matter  appear  in  the  Peter  Jay  Origi- 
nal Letters  (New  York  Historical  Society).  Peter  Jay  was 
the  Father  of  John  Jay.     The  date  of  these  letters  was  about 

1750. 

"Marabie  Bevois  says  she  is  aged  84  years  (near  85),  was 
born  in  New  York.  It's  last  May  63  years  since  she  came  to 
live  at  Brookland  (Brooklyn).  Heard  Jeromus  Remsen's 
mother  say  that  there  was  only  a  small  creek  between  Nutten 
Island  and  the  shoar  and  that  a  squah  carried  her  sister  over 
it  in  a  tub." 


"Joost  Van  Brunt  aged  'jy  years  and  upwards,  born  and 
lived  at  New  Utrecht — says  he  was  about  seven  years  old  when 
the  Dutch  came  to  take  New  York — says  that  a  great  deal  of 
the  land's  washed  away  against  Nutten  Island  and  it  went 
further  out  than  now  but  can't  say  how  much.  Jeromus  Rem- 
sen  aged  yj  years  says  that  he  heard  his  mother  say  she  was 
carried  off  Nutten  Island  by  a  squah  and  that  it  was  all  sedge 
and  meadow,  only  a  creek  between  Nutten  Island  and  Long 
Island;  it  is  now  116  or  117  years  since  his  mother  was  born; 
has  often  heard  people  say  that  there  was  but  a  small  creek 
between  Nutten  and  Long  Island." 

"A  Mr.  Van  Alstine,  upwards  of  eighty  years  of  age  in 
1786,  said  he  remembered  when  Governor's  Island  was  sepa- 
rated from  Long  Island  only  by  a  narrow  creek,  which  was 
crossed  upon  logs  raised  above  the  high  tide." 

113 


HISTORY    OF    GOVERNORS    ISLAND 

The  Minutes  of  the  Common  Council  of  New  York  furnish 
this  early  reference  to  Nutten  (later,  Governor's)  Island, 
which  indicate  that  at  that  time  it  was  so  slightly  separated 
from  the  main  land  as  to  serve  as  a  point  of  reference  for  the 
main  shore  line.  Otherwise  the  Red  Hook  line  would  have 
been  mentioned. 

Report  of  the  Committee  appointed  for  enquiring  into  the 
Ancient  Rights  and  Privileges  of  this  Citty — was  read  in  the 
words  following  (vizt.) 

New  York,  Jan.  Ye  24th,  1698  (9). 

We  have  viewed  And  Examined  the  Records  of  the  Citty 
and  doe  find  *  *  *  *  that  all  that  Land  from  Ye  Eastern 
End  of  Nutten  Island  for  half  A  Mile  deep  to  Ye  West  point 
of  Ye  Wallabout,"  &c.— 

In  the  Colonial  Documents  (London)  we  read  of  this  period 
that  in  1691 

"Governor  Sloughter  arrived  in  New  York  in  the  Ship 
"Arch  Angell"  in  March,  the  troop  ship  having  arrived  two 
months  before.  The  officers  of  the  two  foot  companies  de- 
manded entrance  into  their  Matyes  Fort  of  the  Cittey  but  were 
denied  entrance  by  Jacob  Leisler  with  the  Stile  of  Lieut  Gover- 
nour.   *   *   *   *  ' 

The  Sd  Leisler  fortified  himself  in  ye  Fort  and  had  16  or 
17  bulletts  in  ye  fire  Red  hott  to  fire  ye  towne  withall. 

The  Noyze  and  Shouting  yt  followed  upon  ye  Govr's  landing 
(being  come  in  ye  pinnas  by  the  back  side  of  Nutten  Island) 
made  the  hearts  of  his  followers  to  divide,"  &c. 

Nearly  one  hundred  years  later  General  Scott  wrote  as  fol- 
lows to  John  Jay,  son  of  the  Peter  Jay  whose  Original  Letters 
are  above  quoted  relative  to  Buttermilk  Channel : 

New  York,  6th  September,  1776. 

We  are  liable  every  moment  to  have  the  communication 
between  us  and  the  City  cut  off  by  the  entrance  of  frigates 

114 


GARRISON   EVENTS  AND   NOTES,    1868-I913 

into  the  East  River  between  Governor's  Island  and  Long 
Island,  which  General  McDougall  assured  us  from  his 
own  nautical  experience  was  very  feasible. 

Later,  same  date. 


The  Garrison  was  drawn  off  in  the  afternoon  after  our 
retreat  under  fire  of  shipping  which  are  now  drawn  up 
just  behind  Governor's  Island  and  the  fire  of  some  cannon 
from  the  Long  Island  Shore,  but  with  no  other  loss  than 
that  of  one  man's  arm. 

Watson's  Annals  state  that  "an  old  gentleman  in  1828  re- 
members that  as  late  as  1786  the  Buttermilk  Channel  was 
deemed  unsafe  for  boats  to  pass  through  it  because  of  numer- 
ous rocks  there.  It  was,  however,  secured  for  a  boat  channel 
through  which  boats  with  milk  and  buttermilk  usually  made 
their  passage.  My  mother  told  me  that  when  she  first  entered 
New  York  Harbour  (then  a  girl)  she  was  surprised  to  see 
all  the  market  boats  in  the  East  River  rowed  by  robust 
women,  their  heads  fitted  with  close  caps,  two  women  to  an 
oar." 

Also  the  same  authority  states  of  Nutten  Eylandt  that  it 
was  formerly  nearly  joined  to  Long  Island  by  a  low  interven- 
ing morass  and  a  small  dividing  creek  and  that  cattle  passed 
to  and  fro  at  low  water. 

Mr.  James  Le  Baron  Willard  of  Brooklyn  writes  to  the 
author:  "1  do  not  like  to  give  up  the  idea  which  I  have  held 
as  a  truth  since  childhood  of  'crossing  the  channel'  told  by 
those  whose  word  was  well  worthy  of  credence.  It  may  be 
the  tales  were  but  traditions  so  often  told  that  they  became 
accepted  as  facts.  However,  I  kno7v  that  our  Bay  tides  were 
very  much  lower  formerly  than  now." 

There  seems  to  be  a  strong  consensus  of  opinion  among 
residents  of  Brooklyn  Borough  that  the  Channel  was  fordable 
at  an  early  period.  Mr.  Charles  B.  Pearson,  a  gentleman  in 
his  90th  year,  writes  to  Mr.  Willard  on  the  subject.  He  says 
his  father  in  law  John  Davidson  was  born  in  1802  and  was 

115 


HISTORY   OF   GOVERNOR  S    ISLAND 

a  Trinity  Church  school  boy  and  chorister  and  that  he  had 
often  told  the  writer  of  wading  across  from  Brooklyn  to  Gov- 
ernor's Island  through  mud  and  over  the  stones — that  he 
used  to  skate  from  the  Battery  on  the  Hudson  to  Canal  Street, 
the  main  inlet,  and  along  the  inlet  to  Broadway  and  under  a 
stone  bridge  to  the  present  Tombs  prison.  In  those  days 
Water  Street,  as  its  name  indicates,  was  on  the  East  River 
front.  Now,  there  are  two  streets  east  of  it,  thus  narrowing 
the  River  there  as  the  Atlantic  Docks  later  did  east  of  the 
Island  and  deepening  the  channel  to  a  considerable  extent. 
The  excavations  for  the  Atlantic  Docks  were  made  in  1842 
and  at  a  depth  of  20  feet  many  roots  of  trees  were  found  and 
beneath  them  peat  was  discovered  in  considerable  quantities. 

Other  old  residents  of  Brooklyn  recall  that  the  tides  in  the 
Buttermilk  Channel  were  formerly  less  high  than  now ;  and 
that  the  Red  Hook  flats  were  not  filled  in  until  after  1846. 
These  facts,  coupled  with  the  building  of  the  Atlantic  Docks 
opposite  the  Island  and  subsequent  dredging  of  the  Channel, 
would  easily  explain  the  present  navigable  conditions  of  the 
Channel.  A  resident  of  Governor's  Island  told  the  author 
that  she  walked  half  across  the  Channel  in  1849.  This  was 
with  the  use  of  stepping  stones  at  low  tide. 

It  is  difficult  to  reconcile  the  foregoing  statements  in  toto 
without  fuller  knowledge  of  conditions.  For  example,  we 
have  the  statement  that  in  (about)  1630  it  was  a  small  creek 
and  that  a  "squah  carried  a  child  over  in  a  tub" :  that  it  was 
crossed  in  1710  by  "log:s  raised  above  the  high  tide";  that  the 
"pinnas  of  the  'Arch  Angell'  came  to  the  back  side  in  1691"; 
that  the  British  frigates  (or  shipping  of  war)  were  drawn  up 
"just  behind  Governor's  Island"  in  1776;  that  it  was  "full  of 
rocks  and  unsafe"  in  1786:  that  John  Davidson,  born  in  1802, 
"waded  across  as  a  boy,"  probably  in  1812,  and  that  the  "fort 
to  guard  the  pass  at  Buttermilk  Channel  was  completed  and 
equipped"  in  March,  1813. 

From  the  building  of  the  fort  in  1813  the  obvious  conclusion 
is  that  it  was  navigable  for  ships  of  war,  as  Genl.  Scott  inti- 
mates in  his  letter  to  John  Jay  in  1776,  and  yet  statements  of 

116 


GARRISON    EVENTS    AND    NOTES,    1868-I913 

most  undoubted  veracity  are  made  from  1630  to  1812  that  it 
was  a  sedgy  creek,  a  fordable  stream,  a  crossing  for  cattle,  a 
wading  place  for  children. 

Probably  the  safest  conclusion  in  absence  of  positive  infor- 
mation is  that  local  conditions  varied  with  the  years  and  that 
it  may  have  been  possible  to  cross  it  occasionally  under  ex- 
ceptional conditions  of  wind  and  tide,  as  the  falls  of  Niagara 
under  certain  conditions  of  ice  formation  may  be  crossed  by 
the  daring  adventurer.  Of  one  thing  we  may  be  certain,  viz, 
that  the  sedge  marsh  of  the  17th  century  is  today  a  highly 
important  artery  in  the  commercial  system  of  the  Port  of  New 
York  with  a  channel  1000  feet  wide  at  the  narrowest  point 
and  a  depth  of  25  feet.  The  Navy  Department  sends  large 
battleships  now  through  Buttermilk  Channel,  in  striking  con- 
trast with  the  wooden  Dreadnaughts  of  1776,  and  it  is  planned 
to  increase  the  Channel  to  a  depth  of  35  feet,  as  it  affords  a 
more  direct  route  from  the  Navy  Yard  to  the  sea  and  also 
obviates  the  necessity  of  excavating  Diamond  Reef,  which 
lies  between  Governor's  Island  and  the  Battery.  The  encircling 
sea  wall  was  built  at  diflferent  periods  in  the  development  of 
the  Island — the  S.  W.  portion  in  1866,  and  the  N.  portion  from 
the  Castle  to  the  Arsenal  at  a  later  period  by  the  now  well- 
known  writer,  F.  Hopkinson  Smith. 

We  learn  from  the  Tompkins  papers  that  a  fort  existed  at 
an  early  period  to  defend  Buttermilk  Chamiel  (p.  68).  A 
plan  of  the  Fortifications  of  New  York  in  1814  in  Lossing's 
Field  Book  of  the  Revolution  shows  a  considerable  work  at 
the  South  Battery.  This  corresponds  closely  with  this  order 
and  with  the  fact  that  repairs  were  ordered  for  the  South 
Battery  in  1832. 


CHAPTER   VI. 

Transportation  in  Four  Centuries.  . 

1600-1913. 

The  Governor's  Island  Ferry  in  Four  Centuries. 
1600-1913. 

It  is  a  long  cry  from  the  Indian  canoe  of  prehistoric  times 
and  the  colonial  barge  of  Wouter  Van  Twiller  in  1637  to  the 
"General  Otis"  of  to-day;  from  the  Pagganck  Island  of  the 
aborigines  and  the  Nutten  Island  of  the  Dutch  and  the  Gov- 
ernor's Island  as  it  began  to  be  called  in  the  time  of  Charles  II 
of  England,  to  the  Department  and  Regimental  Headquarters 
of  the  United  States  Army  of  1913.  With  little  imagination 
one  can  see  the  gliding  canoe  of  the  red  men  putting  out  from 
its  wooded  shores,  and  at  a  later  period  the  thick-prowed  yawl 
of  the  Dutch  occupation,  succeeded  again  after  1674  by  the 
stately  barge  of  the  English  Colonial  Governors. 

How  busy  our  little  port  must  have  been  when  the  famous 
sawmill  was  built  in  1639,  and  again  when  it  was  burned  in 
1647  "to  save  the  Iron!"  How  our  shores  must  have  re- 
sounded to  the  tramp  of  visiting  thousands  during  the  days  of 
the  racetrack,  in  the  time  it  was  used  as  quarantine  for  immi- 
grants by  the  act  of  June  13,  1710,  and  subsequent  periods, 
especially  when  the  ten  thousand  Palatines  were  detained  here 
before  being  sent  to  populate  Columbia  and  Greene  Counties ! 
What  stirring  scenes  during  the  erection  of  Castle  Williams, 
with  landing  of  stores  and  supplies,  and  the  feverish  building 
of  the  original  Fort  Jay,  when  professors  and  students  of 
Columbia  College  came  down  with  their  shovels  and  picks  to 
help  the  workmen  complete  the  fort! 

How  the  English  Governors  Hardy,  De  Lancey,  Colden, 
Moore,  Dunmore  and  Tryon  crossed  over  in  the  days  when 
our  Island  served  as  their  official  residence,  the  "Smiling 
Garden  of  the  Sovereigns  of  the  Province,"  as  an  old  historian 

118 


TRANSPORTATION   IN   FOUR   CENTURIES 

calls  it,  we  do  not  know,  but  one  can  imagine  the  dignified 
barges  of  that  period,  with  their  passengers  of  official  import- 
ance and  the  pleasant  social  activities  which  they  served  much 
as  our  Quartermaster  transports  do  to-day. 

In  1732  appeared  in  Parker's  "Post  Boy"  the  following 
advertisement : 

"On  Monday  the  2nd  of  October  next  will  be  exposed  for 
sale  at  Publick  Vendue  a  large  fine  barge  with  Awning  and 
Damask  Curtains,  two  sets  of  oars,  sails  and  everything  that 
is  necessary  for  her.  She  now  lies  in  the  Dock  and  did  belong 
to  the  late  Governor  Montgomerie." 

The  following  orders  throw  light  upon  the  subject  of  later 
English  Colonial  transportation: 

Common  Council, 

City  Hall,  Nov.  8,  1756. 
No.  (1346)  Warrant  issued. 

Ordered  that  Mr.  Recorder  issue  his  warrant  to  tlie 
Treasurer  of  this  City  to  pay  the  further  sum  of  twenty- 
eight  pound,  sixteen  shillings,  and  five  pence  in  full  for 
the  Government  Tax  *  *  *  of  the  ferry  (to  Governor's 
Island). 

The  latest  use  of  the  term  "Nutten"  vice  "Governor's" 
the  author  has  found  contained  in  the  MSS.  Minutes  of 
the  Common  Council  of  the  City  of  New  York  under 
date  of  May  5,  1794,  in  which  John  Hillyer  is  authorized 
to  keep  the  Ferry  to  Nutten  Island  for  one  year  and  is 
enjoined  to  provide  "good  boats."  He  is  allowed  to  "re- 
ceive three  pence  for  each  passenger  and  to  carry  fatigue 
parties  free." 

From  MSS.  Minutes  of  Common  Council. 

Monday  the  22nd  June,  1795. 

The  Committee  on  the  subject  of  a  ferry  from  this  City 
to  Governor's  Island  made  a  verbal  report  on  the  sub- 
ject— 

Whereupon  it  was  ordered  that  it  be  referred  to  the 
Committee  for  directing  public  works  on  Governor's 
Island,  to  make  such  arrangements  for  the  establishing 
of  a   safe  and  convenient   ferry    from   this   City  to   said 

119 


HISTORY   OF   GOVERNOR  S   ISLAND 

Island  as  they  shall  judge  most  proper,  and  that  the 
keeper  of  the  said  ferry  be  allowed  to  demand  and  receive 
from  each  person  (except  such  as  shall  be  employed  at 
the  Public  Works  and  the  Troops  of  the  Garrison  there) 
six  pence  for  going  and  six  pence  for  returning. 

Coming  down  to  modern  times  we  are  reminded  of  the  Civil 
War  period  when  the  Castle  was  filled  to  overflowing  with 
prisoners  and  when  at  one  time  seven  regiments  were  en- 
camped within  our  limited  borders.  One  who  was  living 
here  at  the  time  describes  the  scenes  in  those  days  as  being 
stirring  in  the  extreme.  The  Wisconsin  regiment  marched 
on  the  Island  1,200  strong  and  made  a  particularly  fine  ap- 
pearance, and  the  scene  at  Retreat  from  the  parapets  of  Fort 
Jay,  with  seven  regiments,  seven  bands  and  seven  separate 
functions  going  on  at  once  is  described  as  having  been  a 
thrilling  spectacle. 

About  ten  years  before  the  Civil  War  the  recruiting  depot 
was  transferred  from  Governor's  to  Bedlow's  Island.  This 
was  before  the  advent  of  the  steam  ferry  and  the  difficulties 
encountered  by  all  who  had  occasion  to  visit  either  Post  may 
be  gathered  from  the  recorded  mention  of  the  movements  to 
and  fro  of  the  Reverend  John  McVickar,  D.D.,  Chaplain  of 
Governor's  Island  from  1844  to  1862,  as  found  in  Dr.  Dix's 
History.  He  says  (p.  9  of  his  book)  :  "Transit  was  effected 
by  open  barges.  In  all  seasons  of  the  year,  in  stormy  or  fair 
weather,  on  Sundays  and  when  required  on  week  days,  the 
venerable  Chaplain  might  be  seen  making  his  journeys  from 
the  Battery  to  the  two  Islands,  visiting  the  permanent  gar- 
rison at  Governor's  Island  and  the  recruits  at  Bedlow's ;  and 
in  the  most  bitter  winter's  cold,  sitting  in  the  stern  sheets, 
wrapped  in  his  military  cloak,  as  the  oarsmen  pushed  their  way 
through  drift  ice  in  the  bay  and  against  the  strong  tides  off 
the  Battery."  This  transfer  of  recruits  to  Bedlow's  Island 
was  only  temporary. 

During  Dr.  McVickar's  Chaplaincy  there  was  no  steam  ser- 
vice between  the  Islands  and  the  City.  All  communication 
was  by  barge  at  all  seasons  of  the  year,  the  Government  land- 


TRANSPORTATION   IN   FOUR  CENTURIES 

ing  being  at  Castle  Garden,  now  the  Aquarium  in  New  York 
City,  which  at  that  time  was  connected  with  the  Battery  by  a 
bridge-way. 

Such  adverse  circumstances  were  met  daily  by  the  members 
of  the  Garrison  in  the  winter  months. 

A  lady  who  is  now  making  her  home  with  an  officer's 
family  on  Governor's  Island  remembers  distinctly  the  barge 
in  which  she  used  to  travel  to  and  from  the  City  in  visiting 
the  Island  sixty-eight  years  ago.  It  was  similar  in  general 
appearance  to  the  launches  now  used  by  the  Navy  and  had  a 
close-fitting  canvas  cover. 

Great  were  the  difficulties  of  passage  for  those  on  pleasure 
bent  in  cold  and  storm  and  darkness,  but,  as  she  recalls, 
greater  still  was  the  difficulty  of  remembering  the  counter- 
sign without  which  no  one  was  admitted  within  the  frowning 
draw-bridge  gate  of  Fort  Jay,  where  in  those  days  all  the 
officers'  families  resided. 

It  is  interesting  to  note  that  the  Barge  Office  at  the  Battery 
recalls  by  its  title  the  fact  that  from  the  earliest  days  of  the 
occupation  of  Governor's  Island  by  the  Colonial  Governors 
in  the  17th  Century  to  the  Civil  War  of  the  19th  Century 
transportation  with  the  mainland  was  effected  by  small  boats 
and  barges. 

The  first  place  of  which  we  have  record  as  a  point  of  de- 
parture from  the  Battery  was  a  landing  just  south  of  the 
Castle,  later  Castle  Garden,  now  the  municipal  Aquarium. 
This  was  in  1854  and  probably  had  served  for  very  many 
years,  as  the  Castle  was  until  the  Civil  War  period  separated 
from  the  mainland  by  water  and  the  land  on  which  the  pres- 
ent Barge  Office  now  stands  was  not  made  until  about  the 
same  period. 

There  were  at  this  time  two  barges  in  service,  similar  to  the 
one  in  the  illustration,  one  the  Commanding  Officer's,  and  one 
for  general  service.  These  boats  carried  twelve  passengers 
each  and  were  manned  by  a  crew  of  six  rowers  in  naval  uni- 
form, with  a  non-commissioned  officer  in  command  as  cox- 
swain.   They  made  three  trips  a  day  each,  the  last  one  being 

121 


HISTORY  OF  GOVERNOR  S  ISLAND 

at  5  P.  M.  in  summer  and  4  in  winter.  The  landing-place  on 
Governor's  Island  was  at  a  stairway  just  north  of  the  present 
pier. 

The  Ordnance  maintained  its  own  boat,  rowed  by  two  men. 
There  were  in  addition  to  these  official  barges  a  fleet  of  eight 
or  ten  small  boats  plying  to  Pacific  Street,  Brooklyn,  which 
were  found  convenient  for  persons  going  to  market.  The 
fare  on  these  boats  was  12}^  cents  a  trip.  The  late  Captain 
James  Feeney  began  his  career  in  this  service  about  the  year 
i860,  and  these  private  boats  continued  in  service  some  time 
after  the  steamboat  era. 

During  the  contract  period  of  transportation  the  price  of 
passage  was  fifteen  cents,  return  for  twenty-five  cents.  School 
children  received  commutation  rates  of  ten  cents  a  day,  and  a 
late  theatre  boat  cost  fifteen  dollars. 

The  family  of  the  late  Reverend  E.  H.  C.  Goodwin,  Chap- 
lain from  1871-1904,  have  in  their  possession  an  original 
order  signed  by  General  Hancock,  as  follows: 

Headqrs  Military  Division  of  the  Atlantic 

AND 

Department  of  the   East. 
Governor's  Island,  N.  Y. 

To  the  A.A.G.—  October  30,  1883. 

or  Captain  Tug  "Atlantic" — 

Let  there  be  an  extra  boat  coming  this  way  for  Rev. 
Mr.  Goodwin  and  party  at  11:30  p.  m.  to-night. 

W.  Scott  Hancock, 

Major  Gen.,  U.  S.  A. 
(From  Battery  at  11 :30  p.  m.) 

It  was  in  1861  that  the  steam  vessels  were  first  engaged 
regularly  in  the  ferry  service.  The  first  boat  was  the  "Gen- 
eral Scott."  This  was  succeeded  by  the  "General  McClellan," 
and  that  by  the  "Governor's  Island."  These  were  small  ves- 
sels of  the  tugboat  type.  In  1878  the  "Atlantic,"  a  larger 
boat  of  the  same  type,  was  employed.  At  this  time  Head- 
quarters of  the  Department  were  established  on  the  Island, 


o 


o    r 

D 


n 


TRANSPORTATION    IN    FOUR   CENTURIES 

and  with  this  boat,  or  possibly  earlier  with  the  "Governor's 
Island,"  a  Government  contract  was  made  and  persons  using 
them  were  not  required  to  pay  ferriage.  At  first,  and  for 
some  time,  the  steamers  ran  only  till  dark.  This  service  has 
been  gradually  improved  till  the  present  admirable  schedule 
of  a  boat  every  half  hour  from  6:45  a.  m.  till  i  a.  m.  has  been 
reached. 

The  "Madden,"  a  small  tugboat,  owned  by  Sergeant  Gub- 
bins  and  a  man  named  McKitchie,  ran  from  1870  to  about 
1873,  when  its  owners  sold  it  and  bought  the  "Governor's 
Island,"  which  was  used  for  about  five  years.  The  fare  on 
this  boat  was  twenty-five  cents  the  round  trip. 

In  1898  a  great  improvement  was  inaugurated  in  the  build- 
ing of  the  "General  Hancock,"  a  vessel  on  ferry-boat  lines, 
which  has  done  good  work  for  fifteen  years. 

The  "Col.  Wikof"  served  as  an  auxiliary  boat  for  about 
twelve  years,  and  there  have  been  various  launches  of  late 
years  for  the  use  of  the  Department  Commander,  the  present 
one,  the  "Lieutenant  Ward  Cheney,"  being  a  beautiful  speci- 
men of  marine  architecture.  In  1910  the  "General  Otis" 
took  the  place  of  the  "General  Hancock"  as  the  transport 
between  Governor's  Island  and  the  Battery.  This  boat,  with 
its  larger  cabins,  more  ample  decks  and  accommodations  for 
horses,  carriages,  wagons  and  motor  cars,  gives  better  service 
than  has  ever  been  enjoyed  before,  and  in  the  fourth  century 
of  the  history  of  the  Governor's  Island  ferry  points  to  the 
future  of  the  enlarged  Post  and  populous  Garrison  that  is  to  be. 
The  official  figures  given  by  the  Chief  Quartermaster's  Office 
for  transportation  of  passengers  between  Governor's  Island 
and  the  Battery  on  the  Q.  M.  Steamers  "General  Hancock" 
and  "General  Otis"  for  the  month  of  April,  19 13,  state  the 
number  as  45,999.      This   is   considered   an   average   month. 

A  new  landing  has  been  made  on  the  north  side  of  the 
Island  near  the  Quartermaster  Storehouse.  When  this  is  in 
service  the  time  of  transit  will  1)e  reduced.  A  new  Barge 
Office  is  also  being  constructed  at  the  Battery  just  opposite. 

The  accompanying  illustration  of  the  barge  is  the  only  one 

123 


HISTORY  OF  GOVERNOR  S  ISLAND 

known  to  exist,  and  is  taken  from  a  photograph  belonging  to 
the  late  Captain  James  Feeney,  who  served,  with  great  faith- 
fulness, forty-nine  years,  boy  and  man,  in  the  transportation 
of  the  Governor's  Island  Garrison  to  and  from  the  City. 

Captain  Wm.  Gray  Loring  has  been  in  the  Government 
transportation  service  for  40  years,  of  which  4  have  been 
spent  in  Boston  Harbour  and  36  in  the  Governor's  Island 
service.  There  are  few  officers  of  long  service  in  the  Army 
who  do  not  know  Capt.  Loring  and  all  who  know  him  recall 
with  pleasure  his  genial  character,  his  fund  of  deep-sea  yarns 
and  his  attachment  to  the  friends  he  has  made  on  his  countless 
trips  across  the  salt  highway. 


CHAPTER   VII. 
The  New  York  Arsenal. 

The  date  of  the  establishment  of  the  New  York  Arsenal  is 
unknown.  In  Vol.  I  of  "Ordnance  Reports"  Colonel  Decius 
Wadsworth  of  the  Ordnance  in  a  letter  to  the  Secretary  of 
War  dated  Nov.  13,  1812,  relative  to  the  duties  of  the  Ord- 
nance Department  as  a  "new  Establishment"  and  of  needed 
stations  says: 

"The  present  establishment  at  New  York  may  be  continued 
on  a  reduced  scale  as  subordinate  for  the  purpose  of  supplying 
the  seaboard  with  such  articles  as  a  laboratory  can  most  con- 
veniently furnish." 

During  the  War  of  1812  Governor's  Island  was  the  scene 
of  great  military  activity,  but  whether  the  laboratory  men- 
tioned above  was  in  New  York  City  or  on  the  Island  cannot 
be  definitely  determined  from  the  records  here. 

Colonel  Wadsworth  in  another  letter  to  the  Secretary  of 
War  dated  February  8,  1816,  says:  *  *  *  * 

"The  laboratory  near  New  York  will  suffice  for  supplying 
Maritime  posts."  *  *  *  Whether  this  refers  to  a  place  on 
Governor's  Island  cannot  be  determined  from  the  context.  It 
is  passible  the  reference  is  to  one  of  the  Arsenals  in  the  City. 

In  June,  1812,  as  we  learn  from  Guernsey,  there  was  a 
United  States  Arsenal  on  Bridge  Street,  back  of  Government 
House,  near  the  Battery.  This  was  of  brick  and  was  con- 
sidered a  good  work  for  the  locality.  There  was  also  a  three- 
story  brick  magazine  near  it. 

The  United  States  also  held  a  plot  of  2  acres  on  the  Hudson 
River  at  the  foot  of  West  12th  Street  on  which  were  a  maga- 
zine, arsenal  and  laboratory.  The  laboratory  was  surrounded 
by  a  brick  wall  9  feet  high.  Fort  Gansevoort  was  erected 
later  upon  this  site. 

Another  U.  S.  Arsenal  was  at  the  junction  of  the  old  Bos- 
ton Road  and  Middle  Road   (now  Madison  Square),  in  the 

125 


HISTORY   OF   GOVERNOR  S   ISLAND 

grounds  laid  out  for  the  Parade  in  1811.  This  Arsenal  was 
built  by  State  appropriation  with  the  expectation  that  the 
United  States  would  repay.  The  Parade  contained  238  7/10 
acres  and  extended  from  23d  to  34th  Street  and  from  7th 
Avenue  to  3rd  Avenue.  It  was  used  for  military  exercises 
and  for  a  place  to  assemble  the  forces  destined  to  guard  the 
City. 

In  April,  1814,  it  was  reduced  to  89  i/io  acres;  later  to 
less  than  7  acres,  the  present  Madison  Square. 

On  page  68,  Vol.  I  of  "Ordnance  Reports,"  referred  to 
above,  will  be  found  a  "Statement  of  the  battering  cannon, 
mortars,  howitzers,  shots,  shells  and  carriages  not  in  service, 
deposited  in  the  several  arsenals  and  depots  in  the  United 
States."  A  statement  is  given  there  of  the  number  of  each 
stored  at  "Arsenal,  New  York  City."  This  is  under  date  of 
January  29,  1822,  and  refers,  no  doubt,  to  an  ordnance  storage 
yard  on  Governor's  Island. 

The  Arsenal  may  be  said  to  have  been  definitely  started 
when  buildings  were  commenced  here  in  1833  under  an  ap- 
propriation made  by  Congress,  the  work  being  carried  out  by 
an  Engineer  Officer,  Captain  J.  L.  Smith,  Captain  of  Engineers, 
under  direction  of  the  Chief  of  Ordnance.  The  buildings  were 
paid  for  by  the  Ordnance  Department. 

The  Commanding  Officer's  quarters  and  quarters  No.  2 
were  erected  in  1839  and  enlarged  in  1852.  Quarters  No.  3 
were  built  in  1884.  The  old  office  was  built  in  1853,  the  new 
(present)  office  in  i860.  The  seven  other  buildings  were 
erected  between  1835  and  1904.  A  fire  engine  was  maintained 
in  service  on  the  Arsenal  Reservation  from  1867  till  1910, 
when  salt  water  mains  were  installed  for  the  entire  Island. 
An  old  Engineer  map  of  the  Arsenal  marks  a  pump  at  a  point 
near  the  S.  E.  corner  of  the  store-house  connected  with  the 
commanding  officer's  quarters.  This  probably  represents  the 
spring  house  described  on  p.  102. 

In  1878  the  Military  Service  Institution  was  formed,  with 
General  Winfield  Scott  Hancock  as  its  head.  The  Institution 
was  located   on   Governor's   Island,  where   it  established  its 

186 


THE    NEW   YORK   ARSENAL 

headquarters,  with  library  and  museum.  It  is  at  present 
(1913)  housed  in  the  building  known  as  the  "Clock  Tower 
Building,"  in  which  the  late  Brig.-Gen.  T.  F.  Rodenbough, 
Secretary,  had  his  office  and  where  the  present  Secretary, 
Brig.-General  James  N.  Allison,  is  now  located. 

The  area  of  the  Arsenal  is  about  6)^  acres. 

A  list  of  commanding  officers,  from  1831  to  the  present  day, 
follows : 

New  York  Arsenal. 

ASSUMED 
NAMES  OF  OFFICERS  RANK  COMMAND 

Samuel  Perkins    M.  S.  Keeper Dec.  31,  1831 

S.  H.  Weber M.  S.  Keeper Nov.  11,  1834 

Samuel  Perkins    M.  S.  Keeper April  5,  1835 

J.  A.  J.  Bradford Capt.  O.  D Sept.  15,  1835 

Geo.  D.  Ramsey Capt.  O.  D Oct.  i,  1836 

L.  L.  Van  Kleeck M.  S.  Keeper Nov.  9,  1836 

J.   F.   Lee Lt.  Cps.  Engrs Oct.  11,  1837 

Geo.   H.  Talcott Lt.  O.  D Oct.  —  1838 

I.  A.  D'Laguel Capt.  O.  D Mar.  27,  1839 

L.  L.  Van  Kleeck M.  S.  Keeper May  21,  1840 

W.    A.   Thornton Capt.  O.  D July  2,  1840 

Geo.  H.  Talcott Bvt.  Lt.-Col.  O.  D.  .July  31,  1849 

W.   A.   Thornton Bvt.  Major  O.  D. .  .Oct.  1,1851 

R.  H.  K.  Whiteley Capt.  O.  D Nov.  20,  1854 

W.    A.   Thornton Bvt.  Major  O.D...May  31,  1858 

R.  H.  K.  Whiteley Capt.  O.  D May  14,  1861 

R.  A.  Wainwright Major  O.  D Oct.  23,  1862 

Silas  Crispin    Capt.  O.  D Apr.  14,  1864 

A.   R.    BuFFiNGTON Capt.  O.  D July  12,1864 

W.   A.   Thornton Col.  O.  D June  19,  1865 

C.   Bryant    Lieut.  O.  D Apr.  6,  1866 

T.  T.  S.  Laidley Maj.  O.  D May  15,  1866 

127 


HISTORY   OF   GOVERNOR  S   ISLAND 


NAMES  OF  OFFICERS  RANK 

Silas  Crispin   Lt.-Col.  O.  D 

T.   G.   Baylor Maj.  O.  D. , . 

G.  W.  McKee Maj.  O.  D. . . 

T.   G.   Baylor Col.  O.  D 

Chas.  Siialer   Capt.  O.  D. . . 

A.    MORDECAI    Lt.-Col.   O.   D 

J.  McAllister Col.  O.  D 

A.    MoRDECAI    Lt.-Col.   O.   D 

CiiAs.  Shaler   Capt.  O.  D, . . 

A.   Mordecai    Lt.-Col.  O.  D 

J.   E.  Greer Capt.  O.  D. . . 

A.   Mordecai    Lt.-Col.  O.  D 

G.  CoMLY   Maj.  O.  D. . . 

Frank   Heath    Capt.  O.  D... 

F.    H.   Phipps Maj.  O.  D. . . 

John   G.   Butler Maj.  O.  D. . . 

J.   W.   Reilly Lt.-Col.  O.  D 

J.  E.   Greer Lt.-Col.  O.  D 

R.  Birnie  Lt.-Col.  O.  D 

O.   B.   Mitcham Lt.-Col.  O.  D 


ASSUMED 
COMMAND 


Apr.  lo,  1 87 1 
June    10,  1876 

17,  1883 
3,  1883 

i5>  1885 


.July 
.Oct. 

.May 


..May  25,  1886 

..July  I,  1886 

..Dec.  30,  1886 

..Mar.  28,  1887 

. .  Apr.  16,  1887 

.  .Dec.  II,  1889 

.  .'Dec.  17,  1889 

.  .Feby.  9,  1892 

.  .Apr.  19,  1894 

.  .May  18,  1894 

. .June  10,  1899 

..Sept.  13,  1900 

..Aug.  I,  1903 

. .  Sept.  19,  1907 

.  .Oct.  I,  1907 


The  New  York  Arsenal  has  a  charm  and  interest  all  its 
own,  with  its  well-situated  quarters,  its  groups  of  offices,  its 
trees  and  walks  and  splendid  views  of  the  City,  its  towering 
buildings,  the  harbour,  rivers  and  bridges.  The  records  of 
Commanding  Officers  herewith  given  for  a  period  of  82  years 
are  exact  and  the  author  is  indebted  for  these  and  for  the 
dates  of  the  buildings  to  the  present  Commanding  Officer, 
Colonel  Orin  B.  Mitcham,  Ordnance  Department. 


128 


CHAPTER   VIII. 
Religious  Work  and  Influence. 

The  earliest  mention  of  religious  ministrations  on  Gover- 
nor's Island,  beyond  the  occasional  services  of  the  Church  of 
England  held  for  Colonel  Prescott's  Regiment  in  1776,  is  in 
connection  with  the  Reverend  John  McVickar,  D.D.,  Chap- 
lain of  Governor's  Island  from  1844-1862. 

Dr.  McVickar  was  a  resident  of  the  City  of  New  York,  a 
man  of  culture  and  distinction  in  literary  and  church  circles, 
and  at  that  time  professor  of  moral  and  intellectual  philosophy, 
belles-lettres,  political  economy,  and  the  evidences  of  natural 
and  revealed  religion  in  Columbia  College,  a  position  which  he 
filled  with  dignity  and  success.  As  he  had  already  reached  the 
age  of  fifty-five,  his  friends  were  fearful  of  the  consequences 
of  adding  to  his  other  duties  those  of  an  army  chaplain;  nay, 
strenuous  efforts  were  made  to  persuade  him  to  decline  the 
offer.  But  remonstrance  was  in  vain ;  Dr.  McVickar  was  a 
devoted  churchman  and  deeply  interested  in  mission  work, 
and  had  felt  for  a  long  time  a  warm  and  special  interest  in 
soldiers  and  all  their  concerns.  He  therefore  promptly  ac- 
cepted the  proffer  of  the  Government,  and,  as  the  call  came 
during  vacation  at  the  college,  he  entered  on  his  duties  with- 
out the  loss  of  a  day.  For  eighteen  years  (1844-62)  he  held 
that  position,  serving  not  merely  with  eificiency,  but  with 
what  might  be  called  an  enthusiastic  devotion  to  the  work. 
It  is  recorded  of  him  by  his  biographer  that  he  declared  that 
he  would  resign  his  professorship  in  Columbia  rather  than 
the  chaplaincy  with  its  hard  work  among  the  soldiers  and  its 
salary  of  $700  a  year.  He  was  obliged,  however,  to  resign  in 
1862,  at  the  age  of  seventy-five. 

There  was  then  no  chapel  and  Dr.  McVickar  held  services 
in  fine  weather  in  a  little  grove  of  trees  near  the  present 
Colonels'  Row.  At  other  times  he  used  one  of  the  rooms  of 
the  Post  Headquarters,  which  proved  inconvenient  to  all  con- 

i2g 


HISTORY   OF  GOVERNOR  S   ISLAND 

cerned.  He  made  requisitions  for  a  chapel  building,  but 
without  success. 

He  therefore  set  about  building  one  himself,  and  with  gener- 
ous contributions  from  his  own  family  and  of  friends  whom 
he  interested  in  the  work  and  with  substantial  aid  from  Trinity 
Church,  New  York,  which  at  that  early  date  evinced  an  inter- 
est it  has  never  ceased  to  hold,  he  gathered  funds  sufficient  for 
the  purpose. 

The  Commander-in-Chief,  General  Scott,  was  strongly  in- 
terested in  the  plans  and  gave  them  the  benefit  of  his  influence 
for  the  good  of  the  churchless  garrison.  The  War  with 
Mexico  broke  out  during  the  period  of  the  Chapel's  erection, 
but  it  helped  rather  than  hindered  the  work,  and  the  little 
building,  which  Chaplain  McVickar  describes  as  "having  the 
two  elements  of  humility  and  reverence,''  was  soon  completed 
and  was  consecrated  by  the  Rt.  Reverend  Wm.  H.  De  Lancey 
on  April  19,  1847. 

Chaplain  McVickar  served  with  great  faithfulness  from 
1844  to  1862,  at  which  time  the  War  Department  insisted  that 
the  Chaplain,  owing  to  war  conditions,  should  reside  on 
Governor's  Island.  This  was  impossible  in  that  day  of  limited 
transportation,  and  so  with  great  regret  he  resigned  his  posi- 
tion and  devoted  the  remainder  of  his  active  life  to  his  Col- 
lege duties. 

Chaplain  McVickar  was  born  in  New  York  the  loth  of 
August,  1787,  and  died  in  1868,  six  years  after  giving  up  his 
much-loved  duties  on  Governor's  Island. 

Inasmuch  as  he  was  the  founder  of  religious  work  and  in- 
fluence here,  it  may  not  be  deemed  amiss  to  mention  some 
matters  of  interest  connected  with  his  life  and  work  in  and 
for  the  Garrison  taken  from  his  biography  written  by  his  son, 
William  A.  McVickar. 

Speaking  of  Dr.  McVickar's  appointment  by  the  Secretary 
of  War  upon  the  nomination  of  the  Council  of  Administration 
of  the  Garrison  of  which  Dr.  Joseph  Pynchon  Russell,  Post 
Surgeon,  was  a  member,  in  1844,  his  biographer  says: 

"My  father  had  now  reached  his  fifty-sixth  year;  a  time  of 

130 


RELIGIOUS   WORK   AND   INFLUENCE 

life  when  most  men,  if  they  do  not  think  of  rest,  do  still  hesi- 
tate about  adding  to  their  work.  Yet  we  find  him  this  year 
accepting  the  chaplaincy  of  Fort  Columbus  in  the  harbor  of 
New  York. 

He  had  always  been  fond  of  parochial  work,  and  was  not 
only  ever  ready  to  assist  his  brother  clergymen,  but  constantly 
went  out  of  his  way  to  do  so ;  generally  singling  out  those, 
whether  young  or  old,  who  he  had  reason  to  believe  were 
over-worked.  A  friend  and  relative  knowing  his  feelings  in 
this  respect,  and  being  also  acquainted  with  the  officers  of  this 
Post,  mentioned  his  name  and  secured  his  appointment.  This 
miexpected  proffer  of  missionary  work,  for  it  was  really  such, 
the  performance  of  which  was  rendered  possible  by  residence 
at  tlie  post  not  being  required,  came  during  the  college  vaca- 
tion, and  my  father  accepted  it  at  once. 

On  first  entering  upon  his  duties,  the  chaplain  found  no 
place  set  apart  for  public  worship,  except  the  large  room  used 
on  week-days  as  Post  Headquarters,  and  on  several  Sundays 
business  requirements  forced  him  to  vacate  even  this  and  go 
to  an  inconvenient  upper  room  for  service.  This  quickly  de- 
termined him  to  make  an  effort  for  a  chapel,  but  he  found 
the  matter  surrounded  with  apparently  insurmountable  diffi- 
culties. Government  was  not  accustomed  to  build  chapels; 
nor  was  it  willing  either  to  make  an  appropriation  for  the  pur- 
pose, nor  to  allow  others,  even  if  prepared,  to  build  on  gov- 
ernment ground.  But  there  was  determined  perseverance  on 
the  one  side,  and  probably  friends  at  court  on  the  other;  not 
least  among  the  latter  being  the  then  commander-in-chief  of 
the  army,  General  Scott.  The  result  was  a  personal  lease 
from  the  government  of  about  one  hundred  and  fifty  feet 
square,  on  the  south  side  of  the  island,  subject  to  the  exigen- 
cies of  war;  and  within  the  year,  the  completion  of  a  most 
tasteful  and  church-like  building  of  wood  after  my  father's 
own  plans,  and  from  funds,  given  and  collected  by  himself. 

The  war  with  Mexico  breaking  out  at  this  time  increased 
greatly  the  difficulties  to  be  overcome.     These  were  fully  ap- 

131 


HISTORY  OF  GOVERNOR  S   ISLAND 

predated,  as  the  following  extract  from  a  letter  from  an  Army 
officer  to  the  chaplain  shows : 

"To  me,  and  I  believe  all  of  us,  the  interest  of  the  Churcli 
is  greatly  enhanced  by  its  erection  in  war  times  on  the  very 
scene  of  active  preparation  for  distant  service.  It  seems  a 
happy  omen  of  those  times  when  war  shall  be  known  no  more. 
That  it  is  fairly  erected  and  completed  seems  to  me  almost  a 
miracle,  and  to  you,  dear  sir,  it  must  seem  almost  a  creation. 
It  has  taught  me  a  lesson  in  the  power  of  faith  and  perseverance 
that  I  trust  I  shall  never  forget.  Those  of  us  who  knew  the 
peculiar  and  tormenting  discouragements  under  which  you 
labored,  and  which  seemed  to  us  insurmountable,  cannot  too 
highly  appreciate  a  labor  which  not  only  benefits  Governor's 
Island  but  the  whole  army." 

Another  officer,  writing  from  the  far-off  field  of  battle, 
says : 

"I  am  much  pleased  to  hear  of  your  final  and  complete  suc- 
cess in  building  a  church  on  the  Island,  and  shall  place  my 
small  donation  in  your  hands  at  the  first  good  opportunity. 
May  its  hallowed  walls  echo  back  strains  of  pure  devotion 
from  the  hearts  and  lips  of  its  fortunate  attendants,  and  may 
its  erection  prove  the  means  of  turning  many  from  the  power 
of  Satan  unto  God.  If  it  shall  be  my  privilege  to  return  again 
to  the  United  States,  it  will  arouse  no  ordinary  feelings  of 
emotion  in  my  heart  to  enter  into  the  courts  of  our  little 
sanctuary,  and  there  to  join  the  voice  of  prayer  and  praise  to 
Him  who  is  the  God  of  dangers  and  of  protection.  Be  so 
kind,  my  dear  sir,  in  your  next  letter,  as  to  describe  its  posi- 
tion and  its  form,  even  in  details." 

Fort  Columbus  from  1850  was  the  great  recruiting  depot  of 
the  army;  the  numbers,  therefore,  that  came  under  the  chap- 
lain's notice  in  war  times  was  greatly  increased.  As  the  com- 
mon soldier  is  not  generally  considered  very  impressible,  we 
may  judge  somewhat  of  the  spiritual  power  of  the  work 
centring  round  this  little  chapel  by  knowing  that  it  received 
several  bequests  from  soldiers  dying  in  the  hospitals  of  Mexico. 
The  circle  of  its  influence  was  a  large  one.     The  regiments 

132 


RELIGIOUS    WORK   AND    INFLUENCE 

were  often  changed,  and  when  they  were,  a  practical  symbolism 
was  enlisted  to  give  permanency  to  the  spiritual  impressions 
already  made.  The  communicants  among  the  commissioned 
officers  were  assembled  by  the  chaplain  and  requested  to 
choose  a  Bible  text  which  should  be  the  motto  of  their  regi- 
ment, this  was  then  inscribed,  with  proper  device  and  color, 
on  a  metal  shield,  with  the  name  of  the  regiment  and  solemnly 
hung  on  the  walls  of  the  chapel,  a  binding  link  to  the  absent,  a 
suggestive  subject  of  reflection  to  the  present  worshippers. 

In  July,  1849,  writing  to  an  absent  son,  my  father  says: 
"The  little  Church  of  St.  Cornelius  is  growing  in  historic  in- 
terest as  well  as  beauty.  The  three  successive  commands  of 
the  Island  have  all  their  mementoes  on  its  walls — texts  selected 
by  them  with  appropriate  shields;  and  what  is  more  satis- 
factory yet,  I  never  had  better  attendance  from  the  officers."* 

An  interesting  episode  occurred  after  the  close  of  the  Mexi- 
can War  in  the  encampment  for  a  time  on  Governor's  Island 
of  what  was  called  the  California  Regiment  of  Colonel  Steven- 
son. This  was  a  semi-military  colony,  under  government 
patronage,  going  to  take  practical  possession  of  the  newly 
acquired  territory  of  California.  The  proposed  expedition 
aroused  all  my  father's  clear-sighted  zeal,  both  for  the  com- 
monwealth and  the  Church.  He  saw  how  much  of  the  future 
of  California,  civil  and  ecclesiastical,  might  depend  on  the 
character  and  moral  impetus  of  these  men.  He  knew  that 
they  were  mostly  adventurers,  but  he  never  doubted  the  germ 
of  goodness  within.  He  worked  among  them  untiringly,  and 
before  they  sailed — ^they  were  going  by  the  six  months'  voyage 
round  the  Horn — he  persuaded  them  to  elect  a  chaplain,  de- 
termine on  daily  prayers  on  shipboard,  and  take  the  nominal 
position  at  least  of  a  God-fearing  body.  The  American  Bible 
Society  and  the  New  York  Bible  and  Common  Prayer  Book 

♦These  shields  are  described  on  p.  148.  When  the  new  Chapel  was 
built  (1906)  they  were  removed  from  the  old  Chapel,  carefully  mounted 
on  oak  and  hung  on  the  walls  of  the  south  transept,  where  they  serve  as  a 
reminder  of  the  devotion  of  Dr.  McVickar  and  of  the  manly  piety  of  the 
soldiers  of  his  day  and  generation.    Requiescant  omnes  in  pace. 

133 


HISTORY   OF   GOVERNORS   ISLAND 

Society  were  brought  into  requisition  to  enable  him  to  make 
distribution  to  every  man  of  a  Bible  and,  to  every  one  that 
desired  it,  a  Prayer  Book.  This  distribution  was  made  the 
occasion  of  a  farewell  address,  which,  at  the  request  of  the 
officers,  was  printed  and  distributed  among  the  men  as  a 
memento  of  home,  for  California  was  then  a  terra  incognita, 
and  felt  to  be,  as  it  really  was,  very  far  away. 

The  request  of  the  Committee  of  Officers  for  a  copy  of  this 
farewell  address,  which  was  made  at  the  distribution  of  Bibles 
and  Prayer  Books  to  the  Regiment  prior  to  its  sailing  for  Cali- 
fornia and  which  was  printed,  is  dated  "Camp  Polk,  Gover- 
nor's Island,  7th  Reg't  N.  Y.  U.  S.  A.  Volunteers,  Sept.  nth, 
1846,"  and  the  Doctor's  acknowledgment  of  the  courtesy  was 
dated  the  following  day. 

Of  his  ministrations  among  the  sick,  it  is  sufficient  to  say 
that  he  was  faithful,  and  never  allowed  personal  fear,  and 
seldom  personal  weariness,  to  interpose  a  barrier.  When  the 
cholera  was  raging  on  Governor's  Island  in  1849,  he  writes  to 

an  absent  member  of  his  family :  "Dr I  was  with 

last  night,  who,  both  for  his  own  sake  and  that  of  his  family, 
is  very  dear  to  me.  I  am  afraid  we  shall  lose  him.  It  has 
terminated  in  cholera,  which  has  carried  off  so  many.  I  shall 
return  to  a  sorrowing,  perhaps  desolate  house,  but  God's  will 
be  done.  It  is  painful  beyond  measure  to  lose,  as  I  do,  the 
mourners  also,  by  their  removal  from  my  care  and  sympathy." 

As  I  copy  these  lines,  evidently  written  before  breakfast, 
after  an  anxious  night's  visitation,  and  telling  of  the  simple 
way  in  which  the  chaplain  went  in  and  out  among  his  cholera 
sick,  I  am  forcibly  reminded  of  his  devoted  successor  in  the 
chaplaincy,  the  Revd.  Alexander  Davidson,  the  second  chaplain 
from  Trinity  Church,  who  has  but  just  laid  down  his  young 
life,  a  sacrifice  to  the  same  sense  of  duty,  as  he  went  in  and 
out  among  the  sick  soldiers,  during  the  late  prevalence  of  yel- 
low fever  on  the  island.  His  record  as  given  by  his  com- 
manding officer  is  a  very  noble  one,  and  if  imagination  might 
be  allowed  to  picture  choice  meetings  in  the  spirit  world,  it 
would  find  here  congenial  material. 

134 


RELIGIOUS    WORK   AND    INFLUENCE 

]\Iany  letters  show  the  personal  interest  which  my  father 
took  in  the  new  recruits,  especially  those  who  had  seen  better 
days,  and  who,  by  misfortune  or  wrong-doing,  had  been  in- 
duced to  enlist  in  the  army.  Several,  so  situated,  were  through 
his  influence  at  Washington  freed  from  their  enlistment  and 
restored  to  their  friends.  Foreigners  also,  who  could  neither 
speak  nor  write  English,  but  who  were  well  educated,  and  who 
from  necessity  had  been  forced  to  enlist,  often  found  in  the 
Latin  tongue  a  means  of  communication  which  must  have 
been  to  them  a  great  comfort.  ***** 

The  following  letter,  found  among  the  Chaplain's  papers,  is 
an  example  of  this,  pathetic  in  its  simplicity. 

DoMiNE  Pastor: 

Quod  tibi  scribo,  excusa  me. 

Te'^rogare  volui  ut  curam  haberes  pro  me  Majorem 
optare  ut  me  in  Partem  Permanentem  transferret. 

Simul  curriculum  vitse  mese  tibi  refero  ut  de  me  judi- 
care  possis. 

Filius  Pastoris  primarii  Magdeburgiensis  sum.  In 
prima  classe  Gymnasii  Latini  Halbertstadiensis  versatus 
sum, 

Postea  quinque  annos  mercator  fui  in  quibus  Collegium 
Carolinum  Brunoswigii  visitavi. 

Capitanus  in  Bello  Danico  fui  et  infelix  fortuna  politicio 
me  in  hanc  partem  mundi  translulit.  Non  amicum  qui 
me  novit  habeo.     Rogo  ut  te  meum  optatum  audias. 

*  Carolus  Arminius  Thryhsson. 

The  "permanent  party"  referred  to  in  the  above  was  the  per- 
manent garrison  of  the  Island,  the  members  of  which  were  not 
liable  to  be  sent  to  distant  posts,  and  had  other  privileges. 

*  Translation — 

Reverend  Pastor: 

Excuse  me  for  troubling  you  with  a  letter. 

I  wish  to  asi£  you  to  be  so  very  kind  as  to  request  the  Major  to  transfer 
me  to  the  Permanent  Party. 

I  will  now  tell  you  something  of  my  life  so  that  you  can  judge  what  kind 
of  man  I  am. 

I  am  the  Son  of  the  Chief  Pastor  of  the  City  of  Magdeburg  and  a  grad- 

135 


HISTORY   OF   GOVERNORS    ISLAND 

Only  the  best  men  were  put  upon  it  and  it  was  considered  an 
honor  as  well  as  an  advantage  to  belong  to  it. 

These  chaplaincy  duties,  running  over  a  period  of  eighteen 
years,  having  commenced  with  one  war,  were  destined  to 
terminate  with  another.  My  father's  feelings  with  regard  to 
the  War  of  the  Rebellion  are  well  expressed  in  the  following 
few  lines  of  a  home  letter : — 

"April  17,  1861, — Our  April  has  been  stormy,  but  less  so 
than  our  national  affairs.  It  is  a  crisis  I  could  never  have 
believed  in,  and  even  now  can  scarcely  realize ;  but  it  alters 
not  our  rule  of  life — duty  and  Christian  hope.  When  earth  is 
dark,  we  must  look  to  Heaven  for  light.  Civil  war  is  upon 
us.  It  might,  perhaps,  have  been  avoided,  but  must  now  be 
met,  and  the  Federal  government  supported  at  all  hazards  and 
any  cost.  We  must  now  conquer  peace.  The  interval,  long 
or  short,  will  be  one  of  trials  and  self-denials  such  as  we  have 
not  been  accustomed  to,  but  with  a  brave  heart  and  God's 
Blessing  we  shall  go  through  them." 

Under  the  regulations  then  in  force  soldiers  were  required 
to  attend  divine  service  and  on  the  sounding  of  the  Church 
call  were  marched  to  and  seated  in  the  lower  half  of  the 
Chapel.  Those  only  were  excused  who  were  on  duty  that 
prevented  or  who  could  plead  religious  scruples.  These,  how- 
ever, had  to  remain  in  quarters  during  divine  service  and  have 
the  Articles  of  War  and  Regulations  read  to  them  and  some 
amusing  tales  are  traditional  from  McVickar's  time  of  men 
who  after  comparing  the  Regulations  and  the  Chaplain's  ser- 
mons decided  in  favour  of  the  latter  as  the  less  of  two  evils. 

The  reader  who  has  followed  thus  far  this  historical  ac- 
count will  have  observed  that  Governor's  Island  is  sui  generis 

uate  in  the  highest  class  of  the  Latin  Classical  Academy  of  Halbertstadt 
(Prussia). 

For  five  years  after  my  graduation  I  was  engaged  in  business  during 
which  time  I  attended  the  Caroline  College  at  Brunswick. 

I  also  served  in  the  Army  with  rank  of  Captain  in  our  war  with  Den- 
mark and  then  by  an  unhappy  turn  of  the  wheel  of  fortune  I  find  myself 
in  this  part  of  the  world,  unknown,  without  a  friend  to  help  me.  I 
earnestly  beg  that  you  will  hear  this  my  prayer. 

136 


RELIGIOUS    WORK   AND   INFLUENCE 

in  every  department  of  its  military  and  social  activities.  It 
will  not  be  surprising,  therefore,  to  find  it  so  in  its  ecclesiastical 
relations. 

Dr.  McVickar  was  selected  by  the  Post  Council  of  Ad- 
ministration according  to  the  regulations  of  1838.  In  those 
days  the  pay  of  Chaplain  was  forty  dollars  a  month,  four 
rations  per  day,  quarters  and  fuel,  increased  in  1849  to  not  to 
exceed  sixty  dollars  a  month,  subject  to  the  approval  of  the 
Post  Council. 

The  Chaplaincy  of  Governor's  Island  has  remained  during 
all  succeeding  years  on  the  basis  of  its  establishment  in  1844, 
except  that  since  1868  the  financial  support  of  the  Chaplain 
has  been  borne  by  the  Trinity  Church  Corporation.  This  is 
somewhat  analogous  to  the  corps  of  Acting  Post  Chaplains 
in  the  British  Army,  of  whom  there  are  a  number  carried  on 
the  rolls  in  addition  to  the  regular  commissioned  Chaplains. 
These  have  their  regular  parochial  work  but  may  be  called 
upon,  as  reserves,  by  the  War  Department  for  special  duty 
when  their  services  are  required.  The  arrangement  in  force 
at  Governor's  Island  is  more  favourable  to  the  Government, 
however,  as  is  also  the  status  of  the  Chapel  building,  which  is 
for  the  sole  use  of  the  Government  in  the  persons  of  the 
Governor's  Island  establishment,  whereas  in  England  and 
Germany  today  the  Military  Garrisons  in  most  cases  share  a 
parish  Church  with  the  regular  congregation,  as,  for  instance, 
at  Carlisle,  where  the  author  has  been  present  at  iycrvice  on 
Sunday,  the  command  from  the  Castle  in  the  City  marching  in 
and  occupying  assigned  sittings,  the  officers  sitting  in  the 
choir  stalls. 

In  Germany  there  are  but  a  few  Garrison  Chapels  besides 
the  ones  at  Berlin  and  Potsdam  and  the  garrisons  use  the  local 
churches  as  best  they  may.  The  author  quotes  the  following 
passage  on  this  subject  from  the  valuable  observations  of 
Chaplain  Joseph  Clemens,  15th  U.  S.  Infantry,  on  duty  at 
Tientsin,  China: 

"The  French  have  no  chaplains,  neither  have  the  Italians, 
except   for   soldiers   in   the   provinces.     The   Germans   have 

137 


HISTORY   OF   governor's    ISLAND 

Romanist  and  Protestant  chaplains  at  all  garrisons,  who  also 
visit  the  smaller  posts  perioclicall\\  When  no  chaplain  is  ob- 
tainable the  commanding  officer  reads  the  service.  Regimental 
chaplains  rank  as  captains,  superintending  chaplains  as  lieu- 
tenant colonels.  They  are  paid  from  the  war  budget.  Roman 
Catholic  and  Protestant  chaplains  are  forbidden  to  talk  to  any 
but  those  of  their  own  faith;  the  orthodox  (Lutheran)  may 
talk  to  all.     They  visit  the  hospitals  and  prisons. 

The  Russians  provide  an  Orthodox,  a  Romanist  and  a  Pro- 
testant at  each  large  garrison.  For  smaller  posts  they  provide 
an  Orthodox  chaplain,  and  for  each  prison  and  hospital,  but 
for  others  they  provide  chaplains  by  districts.  They  do  not 
rank  as  officers  nor  wear  uniforms,  on  account  of  the  union  of 
Church  and  State.  The  chaplains  of  one  creed  are  not  for- 
bidden to  talk  to  men  of  another  creed.  In  Russia  soldiers 
are  ordered  to  service  twice  a  week,  but  elsewhere  a  priest 
comes  at  certain  times,  and  the  CO.  conducts  services  on  holy- 
days  and  special  occasions.  Chaplains  are  paid  from  the  war 
budget. 

The  British  provide  chaplains  for  soldiers  everywhere,  ac- 
cording to  the  credal  preference  made  by  the  soldiers  when 
entering  the  service,  whether  Orthodox  (Church  of  England), 
Romanist  or  Dissenters  (Methodists,  Baptists,  Presbyterians, 
etc.).  Chaplains  rank  from  citizens  to  a  chaplain  general,  but 
do  not  wear  uniforms.  They  visit  the  outposts  of  their  com- 
mands weekly.  When  civilian  chaplains  are  employed  they 
receive  one  shilling  a  man  per  annum.  An  officer  accompanies 
each  detail  of  men  to  their  various  services  once  a  week  under 
orders. 

Speaking  generally,  it  may  be  said  the  chaplains  of  European 
Armies  are  employed  in  religious  work  only." 

Dr.  McVickar,  the  venerable  founder  of  the  work  here,  was, 
like  some  of  the  recognized  Chaplains  in  the  British  Army 
to-day,  a  civilian  chaplain,  and  all  who  have  followed  him  for 
70  years  have  been  the  same,  except  Chaplain  La  Tourette, 
who  served  here  1865-8. 

The  students  of  Columbia  in  the  40's  and  50's  had  a  song 

138 


RELIGIOUS    WORK    AND   INFLUENCE 

about  this  distinguished  scholar  and  cleric  in  allusion  to  his 
Army  chaplaincy  which  it  is  supposed  anuised  him  as  much  as 
the  students  themselves.     The  refrain  was  as  follows: 

"O!  Johnny  McVickar's  a  ivarlike  man; 
He's  built  on  the  preaching  and  fighting  plan — 
He's  chaplain  of  Governor's  Island." 

At  this  time  Columbia  College  was  at  Park  Place  near  the 
Battery.  Dr.  McVickar  wore  a  military  cape  and  cap  in  his 
attendance  at  the  College  as  well  as  when  on  duty  at  Fort 
Columbus  and  was  accustomed  to  hang  them  on  a  hook  in 
view  of  the  students.  The  author  has  been  told  by  a  dis- 
tinguished clergyman  of  the  Church  who  was  a  student  at 
Columbia  under  Dr.  McVickar  in  the  Class  of  1856  that  the 
Reverend  Professor-Chaplain  was  very  proud  of  his  chaplaincy 
at  Governor's  Island  as  well  as  of  the  cap  which  he  wore,  and 
the  students,  who,  it  seems,  were  very  much  as  students  are 
today,  appreciating  this  very  pardonable  pride,  but  determined 
to  turn  it  to  good  account,  formulated  a  set  of  verses  of  which 
the  chorus  as  given  above  alone  remains. 

Columbia  College  thus  has  three  points  of  connection  with 
Governor's  Island — first,  when  under  the  early  Governors  a 
certain  tract  was  set  apart  for  the  College  Revenue,  but  never 
used;  second,  in  1797,  when  its  Professors  and  students  in  a 
body  worked  on  the  fortifications;  and  third,  in  giving  one  of 
its  Professors,  from  1844  to  1862,  as  the  Chaplain  of  Gover- 
nor's Island.  The  labours  of  the  College  body  on  the  Harlem 
fortifications  in  1814  must  also  be  remembered  (p.  54). 

The  following  inscription  is  carved  on  one  of  the  stone 
sedilia  in  the  Chapel: 


139 


HISTORY   OF   GOVERNORS    ISLAND 

In 

Memory  of 

John  McVickar 

Priest  and  Doctor 

Born  1787,  Died  1868 

Chaplain  of  this  Post 

1 844- 1 862 
By  whose  wisdom  and 

liberality  the  first 

Chapel  of  St.  Cornelius 

the  Centurion  was 

erected  in  1846 

The  law  of  truth 
was  in  his  mouth, 

and  iniquity 

was  not  found  in 

his  lips. 

Dr.  McVickar  was  succeeded  in  the  chaplaincy  by  the  Rev. 
Mr.  Scudder,  who  held  that  office  from  1862  until  1865. 

Upon  his  retirement  the  Rev.  James  Armour  Moore  La 
Tourette  was  appointed  in  his  place.  He  was  a  clergyman  of 
the  Episcopal  Church  and  served  as  commissioned  chaplain 
from  1865  until  1868. 

One  of  the  Sanctuary  sedilia  has  been  designated  as  a 
memorial  of  him,  and  is  thus  inscribed : 

In 

Memory  of 

James  Armour  Moore 

La  Tourette, 

Priest. 

Born  1826.     Died  1891. 

Chaplain  of  this 

Post, 

1865-1868. 

Faithful  in  the  dis- 
charge of  duty,  notably 
in  the  siege  of  Asiatic 
cholera  of  1866. 
Instant  in  season 
Out  of  season. 

140 


RELIGIOUS   WORK   AND   INFLUENCE 

In  1868  it  was  announced  by  the  War  Department  that  as 
the  Island  is  within  the  Hmits  of  the  City  of  New  York,  the 
religious  bodies  of  that  city  ought  to  feel  interest  enough  in 
the  spiritual  welfare  of  the  men  on  the  Island  to  supply  them 
with  the  ministrations  of  religion.  Trinity  Church  being  in 
the  First  Ward,  in  full  view  from  the  Island  and  close  at  hand, 
the  Rector  and  Vestry  responded  without  delay  to  the  sug- 
gestion of  the  Government,  and  immediately  made  a  pro- 
posal to  the  War  Department  to  maintain  a  clergyman  at  the 
post  at  their  own  expense,  who  should  perform  the  accustomed 
duties  of  a  commissioned  chaplain.  The  proposal  was  ac- 
cepted August,  1868,  as  appears  from  the  followng  extracts 
from  the  collection  of  documents  relating  to  this  subject: 

War  Department, 
Adjutant  General's  Office, 

Washington,  August  nth,  1868. 
Brevet  Major  General  D.  Butterfield, 
Superintendent  Gen'l  Rec'g  Service, 
New  York  City. 
Sir: 

Referring  to  the  recommendation  contained  in  your  in- 
dorsement of  the  31st  ultimo  forwarding  a  proposition 
made  by  the  Vestry  of  Trinity  Church,  New  York,  to  fur- 
nish and  pay  a  clergyman  to  conduct  religious  and  school 
exercises  at  Governor's  Island,  New  York  Harbor,  said 
clergyman  to  be  allowed  quarters  and  fuel  by  the  Govern- 
ment and  have  the  facilities  usually  furnished  to  chap- 
plains,  you  are  respectfully  informed  the  same  has  been 
approved  by  the  Secretary  of  War. 
Very  respectfully 

Your  obedient  servant, 
(Signed)     E.  D.  Townsend, 
Assistant  Adjutant  General. 

Headquarters  Gen'l  Rec'g  Service, 

New  York  City,  August  14,  1868. 
Official  copy  respectfully  furnished  Brevet  Brig.  Gen- 
eral H.  D.  Wallen,  Commanding  Fort  Columbus,  N.  Y.  H., 
for  his  information  and  guidance  and  with  reference  to 

141 


HISTORY  OF  governor's   ISLAND 

copy  of  the  letter  of  Rev.  Dr.  Dix  furnished  him  from 
this  office,  July  31st  ultimo. 

By  order  of  Bvt.  Major  Gen'l  Butterfield. 

(Signed)     Asa  Bird  Gardiner, 
I  St  Lieut,  of  gth  Infantry,  A.  A.  A.  G. 

The  first  chaplain  under  this  arrangement  was  the  Reverend 
J.  B.  C.  Beaubien,  appointed  October  12,  1868,  in  the  following 
Orders : 

General  Orders  No.  104. 
H'dq'rs  Principal  Depot,  G.  R.  S. 
Ft.  Columbus,  N.  Y.  Harbor, 

Dec.  3,  1868. 
The  Commanding  Officer  has  the  pleasure  of  annoimc- 
ing  to  the  Command  that  through  the  generosity  and 
Christian  sympathy  extended  by  Trinity  Church,  New 
York  City,  the  services  of  the  Rev.  J.  B.  C.  Beaubien 
have  been  secured  as  resident  chaplain  of  the  Depot;  and 
that  certain  necessary  improvements  are  about  to  be  made 
in  the  Chapel  of  St.  Cornelius  for  the  comfort  and  con- 
venience of  the  officers  and  soldiers  here  stationed. 

Under  this  beneficent  arrangement  worship  is  perma- 
nently resumed  at  the  Depot:  with  Sunday  morning  and 
evening  services:  a  Sabbath  School  and  Bible  Class. 

Although  "it  is  earnestly  recommended  to  all  officers 
and  soldiers  diligently  to  attend  divine  service,"  and  not- 
withstanding all  are  cordially  invited  to  attend,  yet  this 
invitation  is  in  no  sense  compulsory  and  must  not  be  so 
considered  or  construed  by  the  officers  or  non-commis- 
sioned officers  of  the  Depot.  All  must  be  left  free  to 
worship  God  after  their  own  forms  and  in  accordance 
with  the  dictates  of  their  own  consciences. 
By  order  of  Bvt.  Brig.  Gen.  H.  D.  Wallen. 

I.  E.  Putnam, 
1st  Lieut.  1 2th  Inf'y  &  Bvt.  Capt.  U.  S.  A.,  Post  Adjutant. 

At  the  same  time  order  was  taken  for  certain  work  for  the 
improvement  of  the  chapel  and  supplies  for  the  schools  in 
charge  of  the  chaplain. 

He  was  transferred  after  a  little  more  than  a  year  to  an- 
other Post  and  the  Rev.  Alexander  Davidson  was  appointed, 
January  10,  1870. 

Dr.  Dix  writes  of  him  as  follows  in  his  History  of  the 
Chapel  of  St.  Cornelius  the  Centurion: 

142 


RELIGIOUS   WORK   AND   INFLUENCE 

"The  name  of  this  devoted  young  priest  shines  brightly  in 
the  annals  of  our  venerable  parish ;  he  attained  an  honor  which 
many  have  coveted  but  few  secured — the  death  of  those  who 
give  their  lives  for  their  fellow-men.  His  career  w^as  brief, 
but  glorious.  Cordially  welcomed  to  the  Island  by  Bvt.  Brig. 
Gen.  Thomas  H.  Neill,  commanding  the  Depot,  and  furnished 
by  that  officer  with  instructions  for  his  information  and  guid- 
ance, he  began  his  work  with  the  opening  of  the  year  and 
speedily  gave  proof  of  ability  and  devotion.  But,  unfortun- 
ately, his  health  was  not  strong,  and  after  a  few  months  it 
was  deemed  advisable  that  he  should  take  such  time  as  might 
be  necessary  for  a  complete  recovery.  While  he  was  away 
on  leave  of  absence,  the  yellow  fever  broke  out  on  the  Island, 
late  in  the  summer,  attacking  officers  and  men.  On  receiving 
the  news  Davidson  returned  at  once  to  his  post  of  duty,  in 
spite  of  the  remonstrances  of  his  friends,  and  after  laboring 
strenuously  among  the  sick  contracted  the  fatal  disease  and 
died.  His  name  has  been  borne  upon  our  rolls  thenceforth  as 
one  who  fell  in  the  service  of  Christ  and  of  the  brethren.  In 
appreciation  of  his  character  and  acts  the  vestry  adopted  these 
resolutions : 

(October  lo,  1870.) 

The  Comptroller  was  authorized  to  pay  the  expense  of 
printing  connected  with  the  memorial  of  the  late  Reverend 
Alexander  Davidson,  Post  Chaplain  at  Governor's  Island, 
who  died  recently  from  yellow  fever  contracted  in  his 
attendance  on  the  sick  soldiers  under  his  charge. 

Resolved  that  a  tablet  be  erected  in  Trinity  Church  in 
memory  of  the  Reverend  Alexander  Davidson,  late  in  the 
service  of  this  Parish  as  Chaplain  on  Governor's  Island, 
who  died  at  that  post  during  the  epidemic  lately  prevail- 
ing there,  in  the  discharge  of  his  duties  to  the  men  under 
his  spiritual  care. 

And  that  it  be  referred  to  a  Committee  of  three,  of  which 
the  Rector  shall  be  chairman,  to  procure  a  design  for  such 
tablet  and  to  select  a  suitable  position  for  it,  and  to  report 
the  same  to  the  Vestry  with  an  estimate  of  its  cost. 

Mr.  Strong  and  Mr.  Sackett  were  appointed  on  the 
Committee. 

143 


HISTORY   OF   GOVERNOR  S   ISLAND 

At  the  same  meeting  a  substantial  gift  was  made  to  the 
mother  of  the  deceased  Chaplain,  and  an  appropriation  was 
voted  to  enable  the  Rector  to  provide  for  the  services  at  St. 
Cornelius'  Chapel  in  the  interval  between  the  death  of  Mr. 
Davidson  and  the  appointment  of  his  successor. 

The  tablet  to  his  memory  was  placed  in  Trinity  Church,  and 
may  now  be  seen  in  the  sacristy.     It  bears  this  inscription : 

In  memory  of  the  Rev. 

Alexander  Davidson 

Chaplain  at  Ft.  Columbus 

New  York  Harbor 

Who  died  of  Yellow  Fever 

Sept.  A.D.  1870 

Though  absent  on  sick  leave  when  the  Disease 
broke  out  he  came  back,  and  while  ministering 
to  the  Sick  and  Dying  was  himself  struck 
down  and  thus  gave  his  life  for  his  Brethren. 

The  above  inscription  is  also  carved  in  stone  on  one  of  the 
memorial  sedilia  in  the  new  Chapel. 

The  Revd.  Edward  Hackley  Carmichael  Goodwin  was  ap- 
pointed chaplain  Jan'y  17,  1871,  and  served  with  great  faith- 
fulness until  Sept.  30,  1904,  when  he  was  retired  on  a  pension. 

Upon  his  reporting  at  Governor's  Island  the  following 
orders  were  issued : 

Headquarters  Principal  Depot  Recruiting  Service, 
Fort  Columbus,  New  York  Harbor, 
Special  Orders,^  Jan'y  17,  1871. 

No.  15.        5 

[extract.] 

II.     Rev.  Mr.  E.  H.  C.  Goodwin  having  reported  at 

these  Headquarters  is  hereby  announced  as  Chaplain  of 

the  Post.     He  will  be  obeyed  and  respected  accordingly. 

By  command  of  Lieut.-Col.  T.  H.  Neill,  6th  Cavalry. 

James  Regan, 
1st  Lt.  pth  Infantry,  Post  Adjutant. 

144 


RELIGIOUS   WORK  AND   INFLUENCE 

When  he  went  to  Governor's  Island  there  were  two  separate 
commands,  Fort  Cohmibus  and  the  New  York  Arsenal,  Fort 
Columbus  was  a  two-company  post,  commanded  at  that  time, 
as  appears  from  the  special  order  just  quoted,  by  Lieut.- 
Col.  Thos.  H.  Neill,  6th  Cavalry,  while  Lieut.-Col.  Theodore 
T.  S.  Laidley  was  in  command  of  the  Arsenal.  To  these  two 
officers  Mr.  Goodwin  was  indebted  for  a  very  cordial  recep- 
tion, and  for  whatever  assistance  could  be  reasonably  expected 
by  one  entering  on  duties  so  novel.  Mr.  Goodwin  speaks  of 
the  feeling  toward  him  throughout  his  long  term  of  office, 
both  personally  and  in  his  work,  as  so  kindly  that  it  is  difficult 
to  single  out  names  for  mention.  Colonel  Neill's  successors, 
as  a  rule,  were  as  warmly  his  friends  as  was  that  distinguished 
officer.  Of  Colonel  Laidley  he  has  spoken  to  me  with  peculiar 
affection,  remarking  that  he  was  never  absent  from  the  chapel 
when  it  was  open  for  service,  and  that,  if  on  the  Island,  the 
Colonel  was  always  in  his  place,  with  kindly  greeting,  wise 
counsel,  helpful  suggestion,  and  hearty  sympathy.  Among 
the  officers  subsequently  in  command  at  the  Arsenal  may  be 
specially  mentioned  Col.  Alfred  Mordecai,  Col.  Julian  Mc- 
Alister,  Col.  J.  W.  Reilly  and  Col.  John  E.  Greer. 

Of  the  ladies  resident  from  time  to  time  on  Governor's 
Island,  Mrs.  Hancock  organized  an  efficient  choir  and  played 
the  organ  at  the  chapel  services,  besides  being  at  the  head  of 
several  entertainments  on  the  Island  given  by  the  officers  and 
ladies  at  the  Post  for  the  benefit  of  the  Chapel.  Mrs.  Schofield 
may  also  be  mentioned  as  greatly  interested,  and  as  having 
made  altar  cloths  and  other  vestments  for  the  Chapel.  The 
subject  of  the  music  was  a  difficult  one,  as  it  was  entirely 
voluntary,  an  arrangement  rendered  uncertain  and  unsatis- 
factory by  the  changes  in  command  and  the  coming  and  going 
of  regiments.  During  the  whole  of  her  residence  Mrs.  Han- 
cock took  charge  of  the  musical  part  of  the  service ;  Miss  Julia 
Gilliss  was  also  noted  for  prolonged  attention  to  the  work; 
Mrs.  David  Robertson,  wife  of  Hospital  Steward  Robertson, 
was  for  a  long  time  the  acceptable  leader  of  the  choir.  Mrs. 
Schofield,    Mrs.    Ruggles,    Mrs.    Arnold,    Mrs.    Taylor,    Mrs. 

145 


HISTORY  OF  governor's   ISLAND 

Roger  Jones,  Mrs.  Morrison,  and  many  others,  were  active 
helpers  of  Chaplain  Goodwin,  and  aided  in  many  ways  ih  the 
adornment  of  the  chapel  with  contributions  of  sacramental 
vessels,  altar  cross,  eucharistic  and  other  lights,  altar  desk, 
vases,  etc.,  and  hangings  which  were  the  work  of  their  own 
hands  or  purchased  by  them  and  presented  as  offerings  of 
love  and  devotion.  The  sympathy  of  the  ladies  has  been  al- 
ways a  strong  encouragement  to  the  chaplain  and  an  incentive 
to,  as  well  as  a  reward  of,  his  work ;  and  so  it  continues  to  the 
present  day. 

I  may  also  add  to  this  record  the  names  of  General  Gillespie, 
who  was  especially  interested  in  the  work;  of  Col.  J.  W. 
Reilly,  who  supplemented  the  offices  of  the  quarter-master  by 
having  the  pews  repaired  by  the  workmen  in  his  employ,  and 
raised  money  to  recarpet  the  entire  chapel;  and  of  Col. 
Samuel  Brook,  adjutant-general,  who  provided  cushions  for 
the  pews. 

Upon  retirement  of  Chaplain  Goodwin  the  Revd.  Edmund 
B.  Smith  was  appointed  and  announced  by  special  orders : 

Headquarters  Atlantic  Division, 
Special  Orders,^     Governor's  Island,  New  York  City, 
No.  72.         5  October  28,  1904. 

[extract.] 
I.  The  Reverend  Edmund  Banks  Smith  having  re- 
ported at  these  headquarters  on  the  ist  instant,  is  hereby 
announced  as  Chaplain  of  this  station  pursuant  to  au- 
thority of  the  War  Department  contained  in  letter  dated 
Adjutant  General's  Office,  Washington,  August  11,  1868. 
He  will  be  obeyed  and  respected  accordingly. 

By  command  of  Brigadier  General  Grant: 

H.  O.  S.  Heistand, 
Colonel,  Assistant  Adjutant  General, 
Adjutant  General. 

"In  1904,  after  nearly  sixty  years  of  constant  use,  the  old 
chapel  was  found  to  be  in  a  state  of  partial  decay  and  no 
longer  safe  or  convenient  for  occupancy.  There  were  leaks 
in  the  roof  and  sides;  one  of  the  window  frames  fell  out  in  a 
high  wind;  it  was  very  cold  in  winter;  it  was  battered  by  the 

146 


RELIGIOUS   WORK  AND  INFLUENCE 

Storms  of  years.  The  Corporation,  after  due  consideration, 
abandoned  the  idea  of  repairing  or  endeavoring  to  restore  the 
old  edifice,  notwithstanding  the  associations  connected  with  it, 
and  decided  to  ask  permission  of  the  Government  to  replace 
it  with  a  new  building.  Negotiations  with  the  War  Depart- 
ment were  carried  on  for  several  months,  during  the  years 
1904  and  1905,  during  which  time  we  were  greatly  indebted 
to  Maj.-Gen.  James  F.  Wade,  Maj.-Gen..  Frederick  D. 
Grant,  Brig.-Gen.  John  W.  Clous  (retired).  Col.  H.  O.  S. 
Heistand,  Majors  E.  M.  Weaver,  H.  Rowan,  G.  H.  G.  Gale, 
and  Albert  Todd,  for  valuable  advice  and  assistance,  both 
here  and  in  Washington.  To  these  officers  I  now  have  the 
honor  to  present  our  thanks  for  their  cooperation  in  our 
cherished  plan,  and  their  assistance  in  enabling  us  to  carry  it 
into  effect.  After  due  time  consent  was  given  by  the  War 
Department;  designs  for  the  new  building  having  been  sub- 
mitted, examined,  and  approved,  and  a  site  was  designated  not 
far  from  that  of  the  old  chapel.  The  ceremony  of  laying  the 
cornerstone,  by  the  Right  Rev.  David  H.  Greer,  D.D.,  Bishop 
Coadjutor  of  New  York,  took  place  on  Friday,  October  27, 
1905,  and  the  chapel  was  consecrated,  with  imposing  ecclesi- 
astical and  military  ceremonies,  October  19,  1906." 

The  architect  selected  to  build  the  chapel  was  Mr.  Charles 
C.  Haight,  a  gentleman  well  known  and  esteemed  in  his  pro- 
fession. He  has  a  military  record  which  merits  attention  in 
this  connection.  During  the  war  for  the  Union,  Mr.  Haight 
served  as  captain  of  the  39th  Regiment,  New  York  Volunteers. 
On  the  second  day  of  the  Battle  of  the  Wilderness  he  com- 
manded that  regiment  and  was  severely  wounded.  He  also 
served  as  adjutant  of  the  31st  Regiment,  United  States  Volun- 
teers, and  in  other  capacities  during  the  war.  His  wife  was  a 
grand-daughter  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  John  McVickar,  chaplain,  by 
whom  the  first  chapel  was  built,  and  his  eldest  son  is  Capt. 
Charles  Sidney  Haight,  5th  U.  S.  Cavalry. 

A  number  of  historical  shields  of  metal  which  had  hung  for 
many  years  in  the  Chapel  of  1846  were  removed  to  the  new 
Chapel  upon  its  completion  and  are  in  the  South  transept : 

147 


HISTORY  OF  governor's   ISLAND 

A  shield  commemorating  the  wreck  of  the  "San  Francisco" 
has  on  it: 

"Wreck  of  the  San  Francisco,  Christmas,  1853.  The 
survivors  of  the  3d  Arty  in  Sorrow  and  in  Thankfulness 
hang  up  this  Shield." 

Four  smaller  shields  bear  the  following  inscriptions: 

"Recruiting  Depot.  Came,  17th  March,  1842.  In- 
scribed these  to  the  Glory  of  God.     Trinity  S.,  1849." 

"I St  Regt  Arty  Cos.  A,  B  &  E.     Came  Oct.,  1848. 

These  as  good  soldiers  of  Jesus  Christ, 

Whitsunday,  1849." 

"3d  Regt  Arty,  Octr,  Novr,  Deer,  1853." 

"4th  Regt  Infy 

J"?^'  [1852" 
July,  i     ^ 

fwo  shields  placed  in  memory  of  the  soldiers  who  fell  dm- 
ing  the  Mexican  War  are  inscribed : 

"Thou,  O  Lord,  hast  covered  my  head  in  the  day  of 
battle." 

"Thy  truth,  O  Lord,  shall  be  my  shield  and  buckler." 

A  smaller  shield  above  these  two  is  inscribed : 

"These  Shields  are  set  up  at  the  cost  of  Soldiers  re- 
turned from  Mexico,  1848." 

Military  trophies  connected  with  the  Mexican  War  are 
mentioned  in  the  chapter  dealing  with  that  period.  On  the 
walls  hang  flags  representing  every  branch  of  the  service,  in- 
cluding a  number  of  Spanish  captures.  Their  number  is 
being  added  to  from  time  to  time.  The  saine  is  true  of 
memorials  to  officers  of  the  Army.  The  list  at  present  in- 
cludes memorial  windows  to  Major-General  Winfield  Scott 
Hancock  and  Mrs.  Hancock  and  to  General  Daniel  Butter- 
field;  a  massive  stone  font  in  memory  of  Bvt.  Colonel  Alex- 

148 


RELIGIOUS    WORK   AND   INFLUENCE 

ander  H.  Hoff  and  Ann  E.  Van  Rensselaer,  his  wife;  altar 
vases  in  memory  of  Sylyvester  Day,  Surgeon,  U.  S.  A.,  Bvt. 
Brig.-Gen.  C.  Hannibal  Day  and  Maria  Houghton  his  wife, 
Lieut.  Russel  H.  Day,  U.  S.  A.,  Murray  S.  Day,  U.  S.  N.,  and 
Bvt.-Col.  A.  H.  Hoff  and  Clifton  Comly,  Major  Ordnance 
Corps ;  in  the  side  chapel  a  credence  and  piscina  of  carved 
stone  in  memory  of  Sumter  Loring  Edmunds,  a  credence  at 
the  high  altar  to  commemorate  the  marriagje  in  the  old  chapel 
of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Henry  Fairfield  Osborn.  Other  gifts  are 
crosses  in  memory  of  Charles  C.  Morrison,  Capt.  Ordnance 
Corps,  and  of  Chaplain  McVickar,  given  by  his  great  grand- 
children; tablets  in  memory  of  Joseph  Pynchon  Russell,  Sur- 
geon, 1790-1849,  who  served  at  Fort  Columbus  1824-1849,  of 
his  son  Lieut.-Colonel  Edmund  Kirby  Russell,  ist  Artillery, 
who  was  born  on  Governor's  Island  in  1840,  and  of  members 
of  their  family;  a  Bible  in  memory  of  Brig.-Gen.  John  W. 
Clous  and  a  group  of  paintings  of  sacred  subjects  in  memory 
of  General  Grant.  These  are  assembled  in  a  shrine  under  a 
flag  canopy  and  are  marked  by  a  brass  tablet  inscribed  by  Mrs. 
Grant,  who  presented  the  paintings,  as  follows : 


Hn  ^emoriam 

Frederick  Dent  Grant 
Major-General  United  States  Army 

April  13-26  1912 


Services  of  the  Roman  Catholic  Church  have  been  held  for 
many  years  on  the  Island.  Prior  to  1883  they  were  under  tlie 
auspices  of  St.  Peter's  Church  in  Barclay  Street,  but  for 
twenty-eight  years  past  they  have  been  attended  from  the 
Mission  at  No.  7  State  Street,  New  York. 

At  one  time,  according  to  the  remembrance  of  old  residents, 
services  were  held  in  a  building  near  the  old  Hospital,  at  other 

149 


HISTORY   OF   GOVERNORS    ISLAND 

times  in  the  barracks  and  the  Castle  for  a  short  period  till  a 
more  suitable  place  could  be  found.  In  later  years,  and  for  a 
long  time,  they  have  been  conducted  in  the  South  Battery, 
and  with  the  completion  of  the  new  building  in  the  Battery  in 
1904  a  spacious  hall  has  been  used  for  that  purpose,  where 
service  is  held  every  Sunday  morning. 

The  Clergyman  in  charge  (191 3)  is  the  Rev.  Michael 
Joseph  Mitchell,  from  the  State  Street  Mission. 

For  several  years  past  the  22nd  Regiment,  Corps  of  En- 
gineers, N.  G.  N.  Y.,  Colonel  Walter  B.  Hotchkin  command- 
ing, has  had  an  annual  Church  parade  on  Memorial  Sunday. 

The  Veteran  Corps  of  Artillery,  Military  Society  of  the 
War  of  1812,  of  whose  services  in  1812  mention  is  made  on 
p.  74,  comes  to  Governor's  Island  annually  at  All  Saints'  for 
a  Memorial  Service. 

This  annual  service  of  commemoration  of  Departed  Com- 
rades who  have  served  with  honour  in  the  Army  and  Navy 
of  the  United  States  of  America  and  in  the  Militia  of  the 
State  of  New  York,  in  the  War  of  the  Revolution  and  in  later 
National  Wars  is  authorized  by  the  Secretary  of  War  and 
contains,  in  addition  to  the  features  usual  at  such  a  service, 
the  ancient  Bidding  Prayer  as  used  at  Oxford  University, 
the  Academic  offices  and  titles  being  replaced  by  Military. 
The  Prayer  is  given  here,  not  only  for  its  beauty  of  noble 
English  and  the  high  ideal  of  national  life  it  sets  forth,  but 
because,  so  far  as  can  be  learned,  this  is  the  only  military 
station  in  England  or  America  at  which  it  has  ever  been  used. 

THE  BIDDING  PRAYER 

Ye  shall  pray  for  Christ's  Holy  Catholic  Church  and 
for  that  pure  and  Apostolic  branch  of  it  which  God  has 
planted  in  these  United  States  of  America :  and  as  I  am 
more  especially  bound,  I  bid  your  prayers  for  the  Parish 
of  Trinity  Church  in  the  City  of  New  York,  that  our  Lord 
may  bless  its  labours  for  Religion  in  the  Army  and  in  the 
Commonwealth. 

Ye  shall  pray  for  the  President  of  the  United  States, 
and  for  the  Governor  of  this  State,  and  for  all  that  are 
in  civil  authority  over  us ;  that  all,  and  every  of  them,  in 

150 


RELIGIOUS    WORK   AND   INFLUENCE 

their  several  callings  may  serve  truly  to  the  glory  of  God, 
and  the  edifying  and  well-governing  of  His  people,  re- 
membering the  account  they  have  to  give. 

Ye  shall  pray  for  the  Secretary  of  War,  the  Secretary 
of  the  Navy,  and  all  others  in  authority:  and  more  espe- 
cially for  the  Commanding  General  of  this  Military  De- 
partment and  for  those  who  serve  with  him :  for  the  Com- 
mander of  this  Post  and  all  officers  and  soldiers  here 
stationed,  that  they  may  by  Thy  Divine  assistance  pre- 
serve peace  and  tranquillity  in  our  Land. 

Ye  shall  pray  for  the  National  Guard  of  this  State  and 
for  all  the  Military  Societies  of  the  Nation,  and  herein 
more  especially  for  the  members  of  this  Venerable  Corps 
and  Military  Society,  that  they  may  adorn  the  doctrine 
of  God  our  Saviour  in  all  things:  and  that  in  this  State 
and  City  and  throughout  the  land  whatsoever  tends  to 
the  advancement  of  patriotism  and  true  loyalty  may  for- 
ever flourish  and  abound. 

Finally,  let  us  praise  God  for  all  them  that  are  departed 
out  of  this  life  in  the  faith  of  Christ,  for  the  Patriarchs 
and  Prophets,  Apostles,  Evangelists,  Doctors,  Martyrs 
and  Confessors,  whom  He  hath  bestowed  on  His  Church 
to  shine  as  lights  in  their  generations  from  the  beginning 
of  the  world;  for  patriots  and  soldiers,  for  those  who 
have  given  their  lives  in  defence  of  country,  for  the 
Founders  of  this  Corps  and  those  who  bear  their  names : 
and  for  all  our  departed  members  who  having  finished 
their  course  in  faith  do  now  rest  from  their  labours. 

There  was  found,  a  number  of  years  ago,  in  a  little  gilt 
frame  of  ancient  design,  a  Prayer  for  Soldiers,  evidently  com- 
posed by  the  Revd.  Dr.  McVickar.  This  prayer  is  still  used 
today  at  the  public  services  of  the  Chapel,  and  is  given  here- 
with: 

A  PRAYER  FOR  THE  ARMY, 

Chapel  of  St.  Cornelius  the  Centurion, 

Governor's  Island,  New 

York  Harbour. 

O  Almighty  Lord  God,  Who  didst  choose  Thy  Servant 

Cornelius   the   Centurion,  a   devout   man,   and   one   that 

feared  God  with  all  his  house,  to  be  the  first  fruits  of  the 

Gospel  among  the  Gentiles,  and  an  example  to  those  who 

151 


HISTORY   OF   GOVERNORS   ISLAND 

should  follow  him  in  the  profession  of  arms,  we  humbly 
implore  Thy  blessing  upon  those  who  serve  in  the  Army 
of  the  United  States.  Make  them  to  have  a  love  of  order 
and  good  discipline :  may  they  have  the  victory  over  all 
their  enemies,  and  by  Thy  Divine  assistance  preserve 
peace  and  tranquility  in  our  land.  Do  Thou  comfort  and 
help  the  sick  and  show  Thy  pity  upon  all  prisoners  and 
captives.  [*Look  with  the  eyes  of  Thy  mercy  upon  the 
wounded,  and  have  in  Thy  holy  keeping  the  souls  of  those 
who  have  fallen  in  battle.] 

More  especially  we  pray  for  St.  Cornelius'  Chapel  and 
all  Benefactors  of  the  same,  and  this  Station  in  which  we 
dwell.  Send  a  blessing  upon  the  officers  and  other  soldiers 
and  all  under  authority:  and  grant  that  in  the  true  Faith 
of  Thy  Holy  Name  we  may  manfully  fight  under  Christ's 
banner  against  sin,  the  world  and  the  Devil,  and  continue 
His  faithful  Soldiers  and  Servants  unto  our  lives'  end: 
All  which  we  ask  in  the  name  and  for  the  sake  of  the 
great  Captain  of  our  Salvation,  Thy  Son  our  Saviour 
Jesus  Christ.     Amen. 

*  In  time  of  war. 


CHAPTER   IX. 

Governor's  Island  Extension. 

It  was  not  until  1797,  after  Washington  had  retired  from 
the  Presidency,  that  the  irritation  between  the  United  States 
and  France  grew  serious.  Pressing  remonstrances  were  made 
to  Congress  that  the  City  be  protected  in  its  helpless  condition, 
the  State  having  by  the  Constitution  ceded  to  the  General 
Government  the  power  of  providing  for  the  common  defense. 
The  Government  contended  that  it  had  not  the  power  to  pass 
any  law  impairing  the  obligations  of  contracts;  that  a  balance 
of  $2,075,846  due  from  the  State  of  New  York  to  the  United 
States  by  an  award  of  the  "Commissioner  of  Accounts,"  dated 
Philadelphia,  Dec.  1793,  must  first  be  paid.  At  length,  after 
much  altercation,  Congress  declared,  by  a  law  passed  May  3, 
1798,  that  "Where  any  State,  which  was  found  indebted  to  the 
United  States,  should,  with  the  President's  approbation,  pro- 
ceed to  finish  or  complete  any  fortifications  heretofore  com- 
menced by  such  State  for  the  defense  of  any  port  or  harbor 
within  the  same,  or  shall,  under  the  direction  of  the  President, 
make  and  erect  any  additional  fortifications,  pursuant  to  the 
act  entitled  'An  Act  to  provide  for  the  further  defense  of  the 
ports  and  harbors  of  the  United  States,'  providing  that  no 
expenditures  exceeding  the  balance  found  and  reported 
against  the  respective  States  shall  be  allowed  as  aforesaid :  and 
provided,  that  the  fortifications  for  which  the  whole  or  any 
part  of  the  expenditures  shall  be  allowed  and  credited  as 
aforesaid,  with  their  privileges  and  appurtenances  shall  be, 
and  shall  be  declared  and  established,  as  the  property  of  the 
United  States  while  maintained  by  them." 

Under  the  provisions  of  the  Act,  the  State  was  duly  credited 
with  the  several  amounts  of  money  it  had  expended  by  au- 
thority of  legislative  acts,  in  the  erection  of  fortifications  on 
Governor's  Island.  By  the  authority  of  an  act  passed  March 
26,  1794,  £30,000  had  been  so  appropriated.     This  sum  had 

153 


HISTORY   OF    GOVERNORS    ISLAND 

been  expended  under  the  supervision  of  George  Clinton,  Mat- 
thew Clarkson,  James  Watson,  Richard  Varick,  Nicholas 
Fish,  Ebenezer  Stevens  and  EHjah  Hammond. 

A  further  sum  of  £20,000  had  been  granted  April  6,  1795,  to 
complete  certain  works  on  Governor's  Island  and  Ellis'  Island. 
This  Island,  together  with  other  islands  in  the  vicinity,  was 
ceded  to  the  United  States  Government  by  an  act  of  the  Legis- 
lature passed  February  15,  1800.  The  following  is  a  copy  of 
the  said  act: 

Chapter  6,  Laws  of  1800. 
An  Act  to  cede  to  the  United  States  the  jurisdiction  of 
certain  islands  situate  in  and  about  the  harbour  of 
New  York. 
Be  it  enacted  by  the  people  of  the  State  of  New  York 
represented  in  Senate  and  Assembly:  That  the  following 
islands,  in  and  about  the  harbour  of  New  York,  and  in 
and  about  the  fortifying  of  which,  this  State  hath  hereto- 
fore expended  or  caused  to  be  expended  large  sums  of 
money,  to  wit,  all  that  certain  island  called  Bedlow's 
island,  bounded  on  all  sides  by  the  waters  of  the  Hudson 
River;  all  that  certain  island,  called  Oyster  Island, 
bounded  on  all  sides  by  the  waters  of  the  Hudson  River; 
and  all  that  certain  island  called  Governor's  Island,  on 
which  Fort  Jay  is  situate,  bounded  on  all  sides  by  the 
waters  of  the  East  River  and  Hudson  River,  shall  here- 
after be  subject  to  the  jurisdiction  of  the  United  States: 
Provided,  that  this  cession  shall  not  extend  to  prevent  the 
execution  of  any  process,  civil  or  criminal,  issuing  under 
the  authority  of  this  State,  but  that  such  process  may  be 
served  and  executed  on  the  said  islands  respectively,  any 
thing  therein  contained  notwithstanding. 

The  island  referred  to  as  Oyster  Island,  in  the  foregoing  act, 
was  subsequently  named  and  is  now  known  as  Ellis'  Island. 

The  Sundry  Civil  Act  of  1901  made  an  appropriation  for 
beginning  the  Extension  of  Governor's  Island.  This  was  ex- 
tended to  include  an  addition  of  about  82  acres  to  the  area  of 
the  Island  by  enclosing  with  a  bulkhead  part  of  the  shoal  to 
the  S.  W.  of  the  Island  and  filling  the  enclosure,  the  building 
of  a  wharf  on  the  N.  shore  and  dredging  to  a  depth  of  26  feet 
in  front  of  the  wharf  and  the  erection  of  buildings.     The  work 

154 


GOVERNOR'S   ISLAND  EXTENSION 

of  enlargement,  including  the  construction  of  a  wharf  and 
dredging,  was  estimated  to  cost  $1,100,000,  and  was  assigned 
to  the  Engineer  Corps.  By  a  modification  of  the  plan  adopted 
in  April,  1902,  the  enlargement  was  to  be  extended  S.  W.  over 
the  shoal  to  reclaim  an  additional  area  of  about  19  acres, 
making  the  total  area  on  enlargement  103  acres.  In  January, 
1913,  the  Extension  was  turned  over  by  the  Engineer  Depart- 
ment to  the  Commanding  Officer,  Fort  Jay. 

That  it  was  the  intention  of  the  Legislature  to  cede  title  as 
well  as  jurisdiction  is  clearly  evident  from  the  Act  approved 
May  7,  1880,  ceding  certain  lands  covered  with  water,  which 
is  as  follows : 

Section  i  :  "All  the  right  and  title  of  the  State  of 
New  York  to  the  following  described  parcels  of  land 
covered  with  water,  adjacent  and  contiguous  to  the  lands 
of  the  United  States,  in  the  harbor  of  New  York,  at 
Governor's  Island,  **********  and  jurisdic- 
tion over  the  same,  are  hereby  released  and  ceded  to  the 
United  States  under  Article  I,  Section  8,  Paragraph  17 
of  the  constitution,  for  the  purpose  of  erecting  and  main- 
taining docks,  wharves,  boat-houses,  sea  walls,  batteries, 
and  other  needful  structures.  Provided  that  jurisdiction 
hereby  ceded  shall  continue  no  longer  than  the  United 
States  shall  own  said  land  at  Governors  Island,  *  *  *  * 
*******  and  the  adjacent  lands  covered  with  water 
herein  described  and  hereby  released ;  and  provided  fur- 
ther that  all  civil  and  such  criminal  process  as  may  law- 
fully issue  under  authority  of  this  state  may  be  served  or 
executed  over  said  released  lands." 

Subsequent  to  the  passage  of  the  foregoing  Act,  to  wit, 
May  26,  1880,  the  submerged  premises  were  granted  and 
conveyed  to  the  United  States  of  America  by  the  Gover- 
nor of  the  State  of  New  York,  by  letters  patent,  *  *  *  * 
*****.  Patent  recorded  in  Book  of  Patents,  No.  44, 
page  604,  etc.,  in  the  office  of  the  Secretary  of  State  for 
the  State  of  New  York. 

Laws  of  the  State  of  New  York,  Chapter  57.  Consoli- 
dated Laws  of  1909,  Article  4,  Section  22.  "Title  and 
jurisdiction  to  the  following  described  tracts  or  parcels  of 
land  have  been  ceded  to  the  United  States  by  this  state  on 
condition,  etc.,  **********  Governor's  Island," 
&c. 

155 


HISTORY   OF   GOVERNORS   ISLAND 

Referring  to  the  letters  patent  (as  above),  the  acting  Cor- 
poration Counsel,  City  of  New  York,  stated  June  i6th,  1910, 
in  a  communication  addressed  to  the  President  of  the  Depart- 
ment of  Taxes  and  Assessments,  New  York,  that  the  "lands 
under  water  covered  by  these  letters  patent  are  the  property 
of  the  United  States  and  therefore  exempt  from  taxation."* 

The  actual  extension  of  work  was  begun  August,  1901,  and 
the  sea  wall  was  first  built  to  enclose  the  area.  Its  length  is 
7,219  feet  and  there  are  4,787,748  cubic  yards  in  the  extension, 
the  material  having  been  obtained  from  dredged  channels  and 
excavation  earth,  New  York  City.  The  number  of  acres  is 
103.55  ""i  the  extension,  as  compared  with  69.8  in  the  Old 
Island,  173.35  acres  in  all. 

The  work  was  done  by  the  Engineer  Department  under  the 
command  of  Colonel  W.  L.  Marshall  (Retired  Brig.-Gen.) 
and  Colonel  S.  W.  Roessler,  both  of  the  Corps  of  Engineers. 

When  work  on  the  enlargement  was  begun  the  contractors 
for  building  the  sea  wall  were  required  to  mark  the  end  of 
their  work  with  a  lantern.  As  the  foundation  advanced  into 
deeper  water,  better  signals  became  necessary,  and  a  wrecked 
schooner  was  used  for  the  purpose.  In  the  winter  of  1910  the 
schooner  was  released  and  a  house  built  on  the  land.  The 
lantern,  fog  bell  and  striking  mechanism  were  loaned  by  the 
Light  House  Bureau.  This  light  was  taken  over  by  the  Light 
House  Bureau  May  loth,  1912.  The  average  number  of  men 
employed  was  40;  locomotives,  3;  engines,  3;  derricks,  2. 

As  late  as  the  year  1900  the  sea  wall  was  in  front  of  the 
present  Regimental  line  (Brick  Row),  and  when  the  sea  was 
high,  spray  would  dash  upon  the  front  of  the  houses.  A  fine 
level  plain  (sown  to  grass  in  1911)  now  stretches  its  hundred 
acres  of  refreshing  green  to  the  west  and  south. 

The  estimated  cost  of  this  improvement  was  $1,100,000  and 
the  Engineering  Department  completed  the  extension  for  this 
amount.     The  approximate  cost  per  acre  was  $10,000. 

*  It  appears  from  the  foregoing  that  the  United  States  owns  Governor's 
Island  in  fee  simple. 


156 


o 


w 


CHAPTER   X. 

Commanding  Generals,  Post  Commanders, 
British  and  American  Forces, 

1755-1913- 

July  I,  1878,  the  Headquarters  of  the  Military  Division  of 
the  Atlantic  and  the  Department  of  the  East  were  transferred 
from  the  Army  Building,  Houston  Street,  to  Governor's 
Island,  in  compliance  with  G.  O.  42,  c.  s.,  with  the  following 
personnel : 

Maj.-Gen.  Winfield  Scott  Hancock,  Commanding. 
Colonel  James  B.  Fry,  Adjutant  General, 
Major  Guido  N.  Lieber,  Judge  Advocate. 
Colonel  Langdon  C.  Easton,  Chief  Quarter-Master. 
Colonel  Marcus  D.   L.   Simpson,   Chief  Commissary  of 
Subsistence. 

Colonel  John  M.  Cuyler,  Medical  Director. 
Colonel  Nathan  W.  Brown,  Chief  Paymaster. 

Attached. 

Captain  Wm.  G.  Mitchell,  5th  Infantry,  aide-de-camp, 
Acting  Engineer  Officer. 

Captain  John  S.  Wharton,  19th  Infantry,  aide-de-camp. 

1ST  Lieut.  George  S.  L.  Ward,  22nd  Infantry,  aide-de- 
camp. 

Om  detached  service. 

Colonel  Nelson  H,  Davis,  Inspector  General's  Depart- 
ment. 

Battery  A,  ist  Artillery,  Captain  J.  P.  Sanger,  2nd  Lieut. 
A.  Slater,  Adjutant,  was  transferred  from  Fort  Warren, 
Mass.,  to  Governor's  Island,  arriving  July  2nd,  1878. 
Battery  D,  ist  Artillery,  was  ordered  here  from  Fort  Inde- 
pendence, Mass.,  arriving  July  19,  1878,  relieving  the  Garrison 

157 


HISTORY  OF  GOVERNOR*S  ISLAND 

which  in  April,  1878,  consisted  of  the  following:  Co's.  A  and 
C,  Permanent  Party;  Co.  B,  Music  Boys,  quartered  in  South 
Battery  (now  Corbin  Hall);  Co.  D,  select;  Co's.  E.  and  F 
recruits;  Co.  PI,  coloured  Infantry,  Capt.  E.  G.  Bush,  loth 
Infantry,  commanding. 

Commanding  Officers. 

With  the  coming  of  the  Division  and  Headquarters  Com- 
manding General  and  Stafif  a  change  was  made  in  the  life  and 
interest  of  the  Garrison,  The  Recruiting  Service  which  had 
had  its  Depot  here  was  transferred  to  David's  Island  (Fort 
Slocum)  where  it  still  remains. 

Fort  Wood  was  at  this  time  garrisoned  by  a  detachment  of 
the  3rd  Artillery,  under  command  of  Lieutenant  J.  C.  White. 

The  various  events  connected  with  the  period  have  been 
mentioned  incidentally.  It  remains  now  to  give  the  names 
and  years  of  command  of  the  General  Officers  who  have  served 
on  Governor's  Island  since  it  became  a  Division  Headquarters : 

Maj.-Gen.  Winfield  Scott  Hancock,  July  i,  1878- 
Feby.  9,  1886. 

Maj.-Gen.  John  M.  Schofield,  April  13,  1886-Dec.  12, 
1888. 

Maj.-Gen.  Oliver  D.  Howard,  Dec.  12,  1888-Nov.  8,  1894. 

Maj.-Gen.  Nelson  A.  Miles,  Nov.  20,  1894-Oct.  4,  1895. 

Maj.-Gen.  Thomas  H.  Ruger,  Oct.  4,  1895- April  10,  1897. 

Maj.-Gen.  Wesley  Merritt,  April  10,  1897-May  19,  1898. 
January  7,  1899-May  19,  1900. 

Brig.-Gen.  Royal  T.  Frank,  U.  S.  V.,  May  19,  1898-June 
30,  1898. 

Brig.-Gen.  George  L.  Gillespie,  U.  S.  V.,  June  30,  1898- 
Oct.  4,  1898. 

Maj.-Gen.  Wm.  R.  Shafter,  U.  S.  V.,  Oct.  4,  1898-Jany. 
7,  1899. 

Maj.-Gen.  Wesley  Merritt,  Jany.  7,  1899-May  19,  1900. 

Maj.-Gen.  John  R.  Brooke,  May  10,  1900-July  21,  1902. 

Maj.-Gen.  Arthur  MacArthur,  July  21,  1902-Nov.  8, 
1902. 

158 


COMMANDING  GENERALS,   POST   COMMANDERS,    ETC. 

Maj.-Gen.  Adna  R.  Chaffee,  Nov.  21,  1902-Oct.  26,  1903. 

Maj.-Gen.  Henry  C.  Corbin,  Dept.  East,  Oct.  26,  1903- 
Oct.  I,  1904. 

(Atlantic  Division,  Jany.  5,  1904-Oct.  i,  1904.) 

Maj.-Gen.  Frederick  Dent  Grant  (Dept.  East),  Oct.  i, 
1904-N0V.  10,  1908. 

Maj.-Gen.  James  F.  Wade,  Dec.  i,  i904-April  4,  1907. 
(Atlantic  Division  discontinued  June  30,  1907.) 

Maj.-Gen.  Leonard  Wood  (Dept.  East),  Nov.  10,  1908- 
July  19,  1910. 

Brig.-Gen.  Walter  Howe   (Dept.   East),  April  8,   191Q- 
July  20,  1910. 

Maj.-Gen.  Frederick  Dent  Grant  (Eastern  Division  and 
Dept.  East),  July  25,  1910-April  11,  1912.* 

Brig.-Gen.  Tasker  H.  Bliss  (Eastn.  Div.  and  Dept.  East), 
Jan  y  29,  1912-Aug.  31,  1912. 

Maj.-Gen.  Thomas  H.  Barry  (Eastern  Division  and  East- 
ern Department),  Sept.  i,  1912. 


Regiments  of  the  English  and  American  forces  have  been 
stationed  on  Governor's  Island  as  follows ; 

English. 
1756-1773. 
H.  M.  6oth  Regiment  of  Foot,  the  Royal  Americans. 

1755-1767- 

Maj.-Gen.  Sir  William  Pepperell's  Regiment. 

1767. 
H.  M.  44th  Regiment  of  Foot, 

1767. 
H.  M.  22d  Regiment  of  Foot. 

*  Major-General  Frederick  Dent  Grant  died  April  11,  1912.  His  body 
lay  in  the  Chapel  under  guard  from  April  13  till  April  26,  on  which  day 
the  funeral  ceremonies  took  place.  The  interment  was  in  the  Cemetery 
at  West  Point. 

159 


HISTORY  OF  governor's   ISLAND 

American. 

1775- 
General   William    Prescott's    Regiment,   the   "Bunker   Hill 

Regiment." 
1776. 
The  4th   Continental   Infantry,  Colonel  John   Nixon  com- 
manding.    Brig.-Gen'l,  9th  August,  1776. 

April,  1776. 

Genl.  Putnam's  forces,  1,000  men,  draughts  from  Colonel 
Silliman's  Regiment,  Colonel  Wm.  Douglas'  Regiment 
and  others. 

August,  1776. 

2,000  tropps,  Regiments  not  specified. 

English. 

Aug.,  1776,  to  Dec.  3d,  1783. 

Forces  under  Major-General  Pattison,  Buskirk's  Battalion 
and  other  troops — detailed  list  not  known. 

American. 
1794 — Artillery. 
Capt.  Cornelius  R.  Sedam,  Sub-Legion. 

1795 — Artillery. 

Captain  Alexander  Thompson,  Corps  of  Artillerists  and 
Engineers. 

1799 — 2nd  Artillery. 

Implied  in  the  recorded  burial  of  Lieut.  Robert  Heaton,  Jr., 
2nd  Artillery. 

1808 — Artillery.  , 

Capt.  Richd  Wiley. 

1810 — 14. 
Colonel  Henry  Burbeck,  Lieut.  Vandeventer,  Justus,  Ad- 
jutant of  the  Artillery. 

1811 — 1st  Artillery — Major  Stoddard. 

160 


COMMANDING   GENERALS,    POST    COMMANDERS,    ETC. 

1814 — Infantry. 

Lt.-Col.  Tallmadge,  Major  Delafield. 
1 81 5 — Artillery  troops. 
James    House,   Lt.-Col.,   commanding.       Charles   Anthony, 
Adjutant. 
1816 — Artillery  troops. 

Implied  in  the  recorded  burial  of  James  H.  Boyle,  Major 
of  Artillery. 
1819 — Artillery  troops. 
Implied  in  the  recorded  burial  of  Samuel  Armstrong,  Lieut, 
of  Artillery, 

From  1821-1913  the  following  list  of  commanding  officers 
is  furnished  by  the  kindness  of  The  Adjutant-General,  Wash- 
ington, who  states  that  there  are  no  returns  on  file  previous 
to  1821.  The  early  records  were  destroyed  by  the  British 
when  they  invaded  Washington  in  1812,  and  no  records  be- 
tween that  date  and  1821  are  on  file. 


Post  Commanders 

I82I— I9I3.  ASSUMED 

COMMAND 

1ST  Lieut.  Giles  Porter ist  Art'y May,  1821 

1ST  Lieut.  Peter  Melendy.  . ,  ist  Art'y June  and 

July,  182 1 

Capt,  S.  Churchill 4th  Art'y Aug.  and 

Sept.,  1821 

1ST  Lieut.  Giles  Porter ist  Art'y Oct.,  1822 

Capt.   Mild  Mason ist  Art'y April,  1823 

1ST  Lt.  W.  Wheelright,  . . ,  .1st  Art'y July,  1823 

Capt.  A.  C.  W.  Fanning 2d  Art'y Aug.,  1823 

Capt.  Milo  Mason ist  Art'y Sept.,  1823 

Capt.  A.  C,  W,  Fanning 2d   Art'y Ck:t,,  1823 

1ST  Lt,  E.  Lyon ,  .2d  Art'y Ajpril,  1824 

Lt.-Col.  Wm.  McRae 2d   Art'y Aug.,  1824 

161 


HISTORY   OF   GOVERNOR  S   ISLAND 

ASSUMED  COMMAND 

Capt.  R.  a.  Zantzinger 2d   Art'y April,       1827 

Major  I.  B.  Crane 4th  Art'y Aug.,       1828 

Lt.-Col.   a.   Eustis 4th  Art'y June,        1831 

Major  I.  B.  Crane 4th  Art'y Nov.,       1831 

Major  A.  C.  W.  Fanning.  .  .4th  Art'y Feb.    10,  1833 

Capt.  B.  K.  Pierce 4th  Art'y June     2,1834 

Lt.-Col.  A.  S.  Brooks 4th  Art'y May     2,1835 

Capt.  Wm.  W.  Tompkins 2d  Dragoons. .  .Sept.  28,1836 

Lt.  John  C.  Pemberton 4th  Art'y Aug.  26,  1837 

Capt.  Wm.  L.  McClintock.  .  .3d   Art'y Oct.     5, 1837 

Lt.  William  Hoffman 6th   Inft'y Mch.  23,1837 

AssT.  Surg.  Joseph  Eaton.  . . Jany.,       1838 

1ST  Lt.  E.  C.  Ross 4th  Art'y June   30,  1837 

Capt.  John  Erving 4th  Art'y Sept.,       1838 

(Entire  Regiment) 

Lt.-Col.  A.  C.  W.  Fanning.  .  .4th  Art'y Apr.   30, 1839 

Col.  D.  E.  Twiggs 2d  Dragoons. .  .June     5, 1839 

Capt.  Justin  Dimick ist   Art'y Nov.,        1839 

Col.  James  Bankhead 2d   Art'y Aug.,       1841 

Capt.  Chas.  S.  Merchant.  .  ,4th  Art'y Dec.    10,1841 

Lt.-Col.  A.  C.  W.  Fanning.  .  .4th  Art'y Jan.     2, 184^ 

Col.  James  Bankhead 2d   Art'y July     2,  1842 

Capt.  Gabriel  J.  Rains 7th    Inft'y Jan.    13,  1847 

Col.  I.  B.  Crane 4th  Art'y Sept.  12, 1848 

Major  John  L.  Gardner 4th  Art'y Dec,        1850 

Major  Gabriel  J.  Rains 7tli   Inft'y July  26, 1852 

Lt.-Col.  John  L.  Gardner — .  .4th  Art'y. ....  .Aug.     5,  1852 

Lt.-Col.  M.  M.  Payne 4th  Art'y Sept.  26, 1852 

Capt.  John  T.  Sprague 8th   Inft'y Nov.  27, 1852 

Lt.-Col.  J.  J.  Abercrombie..  .2d   Inft'y Aug.     2,1854 

Major   Electus   Backus 3d   Inft'y July     2,1855 

162 


COMMANDING   GENERALS,    POST    COMMANDERS^    ETC. 

ASSUMED  COMMAND 

Major  Albermarle  Cady 6th   Inft'y July  12,  1857 

Major       Theophilus       H. 

Holmes    8th   Inft'y July  2,1859 

Maj.  Samuel  P.  Heintzle- 

MAN    1st  Inft'y Apr.  14,  1861 

Lt.-Col.  Charles  F.  Smith.  . .  loth    Inft'y-  •  •  .May  8, 1861 

Col.  Gustavus  Loomis 5th   Inft'y Aug.  26, 1861 

Capt.  John  D.  Wilkins 3d   Inft'y Aug.  6,  1864 

Col.  J.  D.  Bomford i6th   Inft'y. . .  .Sept.  6,  1864 

Major  M.  Cogswell 8th   Inft'y Feb.  16,   1865 

Lt.-Col.  Julius  Hayden loth   Inft'y May  27,  1865 

Lt.-Col.  Henry  D.  Wallen.  . .  14th   Inft'y Mch.  7, 1867 

Lt.-Col.  Thos.  H.  Neill Inft'y May  5,1869 

Major  M.  M.  Blunt 14th   Inft'y June  22, 1871 

Major  James  P.  Roy 6th   Inft'y Feb.  26, 1873 

Major  R.  E.  A.  Crofton 17th   Inft'y. .  .  .Oct.  2,  1874 

Major  Alex.  Chambers 24th   Inft'y. .  .  .Oct.  14, 1876 

Capt.  E.  G.  Bush loth   Inft'y June  30, 1877 

Capt.  J.  P.  Sanger ist   Art'y July  3,  1878 

Capt.   Thomas  Ward ist  Art'y July  2,1880 

Major  John  Mendenhall.  . .  ist  Art'y Nov.  9, 1880 

Capt.   Thomas  Ward ist  Art'y Oct.  5,1881 

Capt.  F.  L.  Guenther 5th  Art'y Nov.  4,  1881 

Capt.  W.  B.  Beck 5th  Art'y Nov.  11,1882 

Major  R.  A.  Jackson 5th  Art'y Dec.  21, 1882 

Capt.  W.  F.  Randolph 5th  Art'y Nov.  7,1886 

Major  M.  P.  Miller 5th  Art'y May  6, 1888 

Capt.  W.  B.  Beck 5tb  Art'y Dec.  8, 1888 

Major  Tully  McCrea 5th  Art'y May  16, 1889 

Capt.  W.  B.  Beck 5th  Art'y June  18, 1889 

Major  Tully  McCrea 5th  Art'y Oct.  9, 1889 

163 


HISTORY   OF   GOVERNORS   ISLAND 


ASSUMED  COMMAND 

Major  W.  L.  Haskin ist  Art'y May   15, 1890 

Capt.  P.  H.  Ellis i3tli    Inft'y Oct.      2,1894 

Lt.-Col.   W.   S.  Worth 13th   Inft'y-  •  •  .Dec.   30, 1894 

Capt.   Luigi  Lomia 5th  Art'y Apr.   20,1898 

Col.  Thomas  H.  Barber.  . .  \  ,^^}  ^' Z'    I  .  .June   11, 1898 

(  Vol.  Inft  y.  ) 

Capt.  Thomas  R.  Adams 5th  Art'y July     8, 1898 

^       ^    ^    ^  (    ist  Mass.    )        .  00 

Lt.  E.  S.  Fullerton -j  HeavyArt'y  f  •  -^"S-     5.  1898 

Major  P.  H.  Ellis Infantry   Sept.   14, 1898 

Lt.-Col.  John  N.  Coe 13th   Inft'y Sept.  19, 1898 

Capt.  B.  K.  Roberts 5th  Art'y Apr.   20, 1899 

Major  G.  A.  Cornish 15th   Inft'y. .  .  .Jan.   23,  1900 

Major  E.  R.  Hills 5th  Art'y July   24,  1900 

Major  A.  L.  Myer nth   Inft'y Aug.  11,  1900 

Lt.-Col.  C.  L.  Davis nth   Inft'y. .  .  .Dec.   22, 1900 

Major  E.  R.  Hills Arfy   Corps. .  .April    7, 1901 

Capt.  John  Conklin Art'y  Corps. ..  .Aug.  24, 1901 

Capt.  x^rchibald  Campbell,  .  .Art'y   Corps. ,  .Sept.     9, 1901 

Major  W.  P.  Duvall Art'y   Corps.  .  .Dec.     4,  1901 

Col.  W.  E.  Dougherty 8th    Inft'y Oct.    12,1902 

Capt.    John    Stafford 8th   Inft'y Jan.   25,  1904 

Capt.  W.  Y.   Stamper 8th    Inft'y Aug.  26,1904 

Col.  F.  a.   Smith 8th   Inft'y Aug.  13,1904 

Ma  J.  Francis  P.  Fremont.  .  .5th   Inft'y Feb.   20,  1906 

Col.  Leven  C.  Allen 12th   Inft'y-  -  •  -May   24,  1906 

Capt.  Moor  N.  Falls 12th   Inft'y. .  .  .July   16, 1906 

Capt.  Winfred  B.  Carr C.   A.  C Aug.     5, 1906 

Ma  J.  J.  S.  Mallory 12th    Inft'y. . .  .Aug.  31, 1906 

Col.  Leven  C.  Allen 12th    Inft'y. . .  .Sept.  30, 1906 

Lt.-Col.  Robert  F.  Ames....  12th    Inf  t'y  -  •  •  •  May   27,1908 

164 


COMMANDING  GENERALS,   POST   COMMANDERS^   ETC. 

ASSUMED  COMMAND 

Capt.  James  P.  Harbeson.  .  .  .I2th  Inft'y June  12,1908 

Col.  Wm.  H.  C.  Bowen i2tli  Inft'y. .  .  .July  15, 1908 

Ma  J,  Chas.  L.  Beckurts 5th    Inft'y June  29,  1909 

Col.  H.  K.  Bailey 29th  Inft'y Sept.  18,  1909 

Capt.  J.  F.  Madden,  Adjt 29th  Inft'y May  21,1910 

Capt.  Chas.  H.  Paine,  Q.  M,  .  .29th  Inft'y June  12,  1910 

Capt.  J.  F.  Madden,  Adjt 29th  Inft'y. .  .  .July  31,  1910 

Col.   H.   K.   Bailey 29th  Inft'y Aug.  27,1910 

Capt.  J.  F.  Madden,  Adjt 29th  Inft'y. . .  .Aug.  24,  191 1 

Col.  G.  R.  Cecil 29th  Inft'y. ..  .Sept.  3,1911 

Capt.  A.  C.  Dalton,  Q.  M.  ,  .  .29th  Inft'y. .  .  .July  6,11912 

Col.  G.  R.  Cecil 29th  Inft'y Aug.  8,1912 

Col.  John  S.  Mallory 29th  Inft'y Sept.  10, 1912 

Infantry  Commands. 

The  Garrison  remained  an  Artillery  one  till  October,  1894. 
In  June,  1894,  the  last  Artillery  command  consisted  of  Bat- 
teries B,  H,  and  M,  ist  Artillery,  Major  Wm.  L.  Haskin 
commanding. 

The  command  was  relieved  on  October  2nd  and  3rd,  1894, 
by  the  arrival  of  the  following  companies  of  the  13th  In- 
fantry— Co.  F,  Capt.  J.  Forance;  Co.  B,  Capt.  H.  Gilman; 
Co.  D,  Capt.  P.  H.  Ellis.  Lt.-Colonel  Daingerfield  Parker 
was  assigned  to  the  command.  He  was  relieved  in  1895  by 
Lieut-Colonel  W.  S.  Worth. 

The  13th  Infantry  remained  till  April  19,  1898,  when  it  was 
ordered  to  Cuba.  It  returned  from  Montauk  Point  in  Sep- 
tember, 1898,  and  left  for  service  in  the  Far  East  April  28, 
1899. 

The  13th  was  temporarily  relieved  by  Battery  A,  5th  Ar- 
tillery, Captain  Benjamin  K.  Roberts  commanding  the  Bat- 
tery. 

A  battalion   of   the    nth   Infantry,    Lieut. -Col.   Charles   S. 

165 


COMMANDING  GENERALS,   POST  COMMANDERS,   ETC. 

Davis  commanding  the  Post,  was  stationed  here  from  August 
12,  1900,  to  April  7th,  1901. 

In  April,  1901,  Fort  Columbus  was  Garrisoned  by  the  49th, 
52nd  and  83rd  companies  C.  A.  C.  and  the  8th  Artillery  band 
under  command  of  Major  E.  R.  Hills. 

Headquarters,  Band  and  the  2nd  Battalion,  8th  Infantry, 
under  command  of  Colonel  W.  E.  Dougherty,  arrived  October 
12,  1902,  and  left  for  Manila  Feby.  19,  1906,  under  com- 
mand of  Colonel  Frederick  A.  Smith. 

The  Headquarters,  Band  and  one  Battalion  of  the  12th 
Infantry  were  stationed  here  from  May  24,  1906,  to  June  29, 
1909,  commanded  successively  by  Colonels  Leven  C.  Allen  and 
W.  H.  C.  Bowen,  and  were  relieved  Sept.  18,  1909,  by  the 
Headquarters,  Band  and  3rd  Battalion  of  the  29th  Infantry, 
Colonel  Hobart  K.  Bailey  in  command,  the  ist  and  2d  Bat- 
talions being  at  Forts  Porter  and  Niagara  respectively. 

Colonel  Bailey  was  followed  upon  his  retirement  by  Colonel 
G.  R.  Cecil  Sept.  3,  191 1,  and  Colonel  Cecil  by  Colonel  John  S. 
Mallory,  Sept.  10,  1912. 


It  seems  fitting  to  give  in  full  at  this  point  in  the  history  of 
Governor's  Island  the  names  of  the  officers  on  duty  at  this 
Station.  It  is  obviously  impossible  to  reproduce  the  roster  in 
full  for  a  period  of  one  hundred  years.  The  list,  therefore, 
up  to  this  time  has  been  of  commanding  officers  only.  The 
following  names  are  of  those  on  duty  (June,  1913)  at  Depart- 
ment Headquarters  and  at  Fort  Jay,  taken  from  the  published 
rosters  of  Department  Headquarters  and  Fort  Jay  respectively : 


HEADQUARTERS  EASTERN  DEPARTMENT. 

Governors  Island,  New  York  City. 

Maj.-Gen.  Thomas  H.  Barry  commanding. 

Capt.  John  E.  Woodward,  29th  Infantry,  Aide-de-Camp. 

166 


commanding  generals,  post  commanders,  etc. 

Staff. 

LiEUT.-CoL.  William  G.  Haan,  Gen.  Staff,  Chief  of  Staff. 

Col.  Samuel  W.  Dunning,  Officer  in  Charge  of  Militia 
Affairs. 

Col.  William  A.  Simpson,  Adjutant. 

LiEUT.-CoL.  Frank  L.  Dodds,  Judge  Advocate. 

Col.  Stephen  C.  Mills,  Inspector. 

Col.  John  B.  Bellinger,  Quartermaster. 

Col.  L.  Mervin  Maus,  Surgeon. 

Col.  William  M.  Black,  Engineer  Officer. 

Col.   Orin   B.   Mitcham,  Ordnance  Officer,  commanding 
New  York  Arsenal. 

Lieut.-Col.  Samuel  Reber,  Signal  Officer. 

Additional  Staff. 

Lieut.-Col.  Benjamin  Alvord,  Asst.  to  Adjutant. 

LiEUT.-CoL.  Alfred  E.  Bradley,  Sanitary  Inspector. 

Lieut.-Col.  William  C.  Brown,  Cav.,  Acting  Inspector. 

Lieut.-Col.  Alfred  M.  Hunter,  C.  A.  C,  Inspector. 

Maj.  William  B.  Rochester,  Q.  M.  Corps,  Asst.  to  Dept. 
Quartermaster. 

Maj.  William  E.  Horton,  Q.  M.  Corps,  Asst.  to  Dept. 
Quartermaster. 

Maj.  Gordon  G.  Heiner,  C.  A.  C,  Acting  Inspector. 

Maj.  Frank  H.   Lawton,  Q.   M.   Corps,  Asst.   to  Dept. 
Quartermaster. 

Maj.  Albert  E.  Truby,  M.  C,  Attending  Surgeon. 

Capt.  Paul  Giddings,  Q.  M.  Corps,  Asst.  to  Dept.  Quarter- 
master. 

Capt.  George  D.  Arrowsmith,  Q.  M.  Corps,  Asst.  to  Dept. 
Quartermaster. 

167 


HISTORY  OF  GOVERNOR  S   ISLAND 

Capt.   Elisha   G.  Abbott,   S.   C,  Asst.  to  Dept.   Signal 
Officer. 
Capt.  James  J.  Mayes,  Inf.,  Asst.  to  Dept.  Judge  Advocate. 

Major  Jay  E.  Hoffer,  Ord.  Dept.,  Resident  at  New  York 
Arsenal,  Governor's  Island,  on  duty  at  Sandy  Hook  Proving 
Ground. 


Revd.  Edmund  Banks  Smith,  Chaplain. 


Officers  of  the  29TH  U.  S.  Infantry  on  duty  at  Fort 
Jay,  Governor's  Island,  June,  191 3. 

Headquarters  and  3RD  Battalion. 

Colonel  John  S.  Mallory  commanding. 
Major  Douglas  Settle,  commanding  3rd  Battalion. 
Captain  Robert  H.  Allen,  Adjutant. 
Captain  Kirwan  T.  Smith,  Quartermaster. 
Captain  Henry  C.  Clement,  Jr.,  Commissary. 
Lieut.  Jacob  H.  Rudolph,  Battalion  Quartermaster  and 
Commissary. 

1ST  Lieut.  Carroll  R.  Baker,  M.  R.  C. 


Captain  John  F.  Madden,  commanding  Company  K. 
Captain  James  A.  Moss,  commanding  Company  M. 
Captain  Thomas  W.  Darrah,  commanding  Company  I. 
Captain  George  H.  Shelton,  commanding  Company  L. 

168 


COMMANDING  GENERALS,   POST   COMMANDERS^   ETC. 

Lieutenants. 

First  Lieutenant  Carroll  B.  Hodges,  on  duty  with  Com- 
pany L. 

First  Lieutenant  Charles  A.  Dravo,  on  duty  with  Com- 
pany I. 

First  Lieutenant  James  G.  McIlroy,  on  duty  with  Com- 
pany K. 

Second   Lieutenant  John   R.   Emory,  Jr.,   on   duty   with 
Company  L 

Second   Lieutenant   William    E.    Larned,    on   duty   with 
Company  M. 

Second  Lieutenant  William  J.  Morrissey,  on  duty  with 
Company  L. 

Second  Lieutenant  Henry  C.  McLean,  on  duty  with  Com- 
pany K. 


^.^;> 


ADDENDA 


BRITISH   REGIMENTS    STATIONED   ON 
GOVERNOR'S    ISLAND. 

Reference  has  been  made  in  Chapter  II  to  the  Royal  Troops 
stationed  here  in  the  Colonial  days.  A  record  of  their  service 
will  be  of  interest  on  account  of  their  association  with  Gover- 
nor's Island. 

H.  M.  22d  Regiment  of  Foot,  stationed  here  in  1767,  now 
the  Cheshire  Regiment,  served  at  the  Battle  of  Louisburg, 
where  Major-General  Sir  William  Pepperell,  whose  Regiment 
was  stationed  here  in  1755,  won  his  title,  also  at  Bunker  Hill 
and  at  Quaker  Hill. 

H.  M.  44th  Regiment  of  Foot,  now  the  Essex  Regiment, 
stationed  here  in  1767,  saw  service  at  Ticonderoga,  Fort  du 
Quesne,  Niagara,  Brandywine,  and  the  Battle  of  Long  Island, 
and  later  at  Bladensburg  under  Colonel  Brooke  and  at  Balti- 
more under  Major  Johnson. 

The  Regiment  of  most  interest  to  Americans,  however,  is 
the  Royal  American  Regiment,  H.  M.  60th  Regiment  of  Foot, 
now  the  King's  Royal  Rifle  Corps,  of  which  H.  M.  the  King 
is  the  Colonel  in  Chief. 

This  was  raised  in  1755,  the  recruits  coming  mainly  from 
Virginia  and  Maryland,  and  was  organized  on  Governor's 
Island  and  for  many  years  was  on  duty  here,  as  mentioned 
in  Chapter  II.  Walter  Richards  in  "Her  Majesty's  Army" 
points  out  that  this  Regiment  and  the  Rifle  Brigade  are  the 
only  Infantry  Regiments  the  Chief  Officers  of  which  are 
denominated  Colonel  in  Chief  and  Colonel  Commandant,  and 
that  a  distinctive  feature  of  the  King's  Rifle  Corps  is  that  no 
fewer  than  six  Acts  of  Parliament  have  been  passed  concern- 
ing it. 

"Their  first  active  employment,"  he  says,  "was  in  1757, 
two  years  after  their  organization  on  Governor's  Island,  when 
they  were  engaged  at  Charleston,  on  the  Canadian  frontier 

171 


ADDENDA 

and  at  the  affair  of  Port  William  Henry.  The  following  year 
(1758)  gained  for  them  their  first  distinction,  which  com- 
memorates the  share  they  had  in  the  2nd  Expedition  against 
Louisburg.  Nor  was  Louisburg  the  only  scene  of  their 
prowes.  Six  companies  were  with  the  British  force  *  *  *  at 
Ticonderoga.  They  fought  at  Kingston  and  Prince  Edward's 
Island.  In  1759  they  fought  under  General  Prideaux  at  Fort 
Niagara :  some  of  the  Regiment  were  with  Sir  Jeffrey  Amherst, 
while  others  again  were  with  Wolfe  when  on  the  Heights  of 
Abraham  he  gained  Canada  for  the  British  Crown  and  died 
in  the  gaining. 

Here  they  so  distinguished  themselves  that  according  to 
tradition  the  gallant  Wolfe  himself  bestowed  on  them  their 
motto 

Celer  et  Audax 

It  does  not  seem  that  there  exists  any  positive  record  of 
this  fact,  but  the  wording  of  the  order  in  1824  giving  special 
permission  for  tlie  resumption  bears  out  the  theory.  The 
order  was  as  follows: 

Sir: 

I  have  the  honour  to  acquaint  you  by  direction  of  the 
Commander  in  Chief  that  His  Majesty  has  been  pleased 
to  permit  the  60th  Regiment  to  resume  the  motto  Celer 
et  Audax  which  was  won  by  the  Regiment  in  commemo- 
ration of  its  distinguished  bravery  whilst  employed  with 
the  British  Army  in  North  America  under  Major  General 
Wolfe  in  the  year  1759. 

The  Regiment  has  as  a  badge  a  bugle  on  the  glengarry.  On 
the  helmet  plate  is  a  bugle  and  a  maltese  cross  bearing  the 
motto. 

On  the  cross  are  the  names  of  the  great  Regimental  battles, 
viz. :  Louisburg,  Quebec,  1759,  Roleia,  Vimiera,  Martinique, 
Talavera,  Busaco,  Fuentes  d'Onor,  Albuera,  Ciudad  Rodrigo, 
Badajoz,  Salamanca,  Vittoria,  Pyrenees,  Nivelle,  Nive,  Orthes, 
Toulouse,  Peninsula,  Punjaub,  Mooltan,  Goojerat,  South 
Africa  (1851-3),  Delhi,  Taku  Forts,  Pekin,  South  Africa 
(1879),  Ahmad  Khel,  Kandahar  (1880),  Afghanistan  (1878- 

172 


ADDENDA 

80),  Egypt  (1882-4),  Tel-El-Kebir,  Chitral,  S.  Africa  (1899- 
1902),  Defense  of  Ladysmith,  Relief  of  Ladysmith." 

It  is  a  cause  of  deep  satisfaction  to  realize  that  this  dis- 
tinguished Regiment,  ccler  et  audax  in  practice  as  well  as  by 
motto,  not  only  came  from  our  soil  in  the  persons  of  its  first 
recruits,  but  that  it  gained  its  growth  and  training  in  this 
Island-Garrison,  where  it  remained  for  a  long  tour  of  duty, 
and  that  by  what  we  may  now  regard  as  a  most  happy  occur- 
rence of  military  routine  it  was  ordered  away  to  the  West 
Indies  before  the  outbreak  of  hostilities  in  1775-6.  Thus  the 
60th  Foot  were  never  arrayed  against  those  who  were  their 
brethren  in  blood  as  well  as  in  sympathy,  and  the  author 
ventures  at  the  close  of  this  story  of  the  Past  to  present  his 
compliments,  with  which  he  feels  he  can  unofficially  join  those 
of  the  Command  Stationed  on  Governor's  Island  today,  to 
the  60th  Foot  of  1756,  the  King's  Royal  Rifle  Corps  of  1913. 

It  is  not  alone  in  arms  that  Governor's  Island  is  bound  by 
lasting  ties  of  interest  and  sympathy  to  the  mother  country. 
The  Church  and  the  Army  in  every  land  have  much  in  com- 
mon— the  Army  to  protect  and  the  Church  to  bless.  This 
Garrison  has  been  no  exception  to  the  rule.  There  is,  how- 
ever, a  deeper  connection  than  would  appear  upon  the  surface 
as  a  part  of  our  history.  It  is  that  the  ministrations  of  religion 
here  for  nearly  seventy  years  carried  on  at  the  request  of  the 
Army  by  the  venerable  Corporation  of  Trinity  Church  have 
been,  and  are  today,  possible  because  of  the  Royal  endow- 
ments of  the  British  Crown  which  constitute  the  wealth  of 
the  Parish  of  Trinity  Church.  The  Parish  regards  it  a  privi- 
lege to  minister  to  the  spiritual  needs  of  the  Army.  From 
the  point  of  view  of  the  historian  there  is  an  added  interest  in 
reflecting  that  when  in  the  providence  of  God  the  existing 
close  relations  between  the  Army  and  the  Old  Parish  began, 
they  not  only  opened  the  way  to  mutual  acquaintance  and 
esteem,  but  gave  the  Parish  an  opportunity  among  its  other 
works  to  pay  from  the  Royal  endowments  a  tribute  of  appre- 
ciation of  this  very  distinguished  Regiment  of  the  British 
Army  born  on  Governor's  Island. 

173 


ADDENDA 

Thus  remembrance  of  the  Past  and  loyalty  to  the  Present 
go  hand  in  hand.  The  Prince  of  Wales'  Feathers  still  bend 
over  the  pulpit  of  old  Saint  Paul's  Chapel,  the  Coronation 
of  His  Majesty  King  George  V  is  solemnly  observed  in  the 
Parish  Church.  Such  things  as  this  help  to  show  that  men 
do  not  even  in  this  age  altogether  forget  the  deeds  of  their 
forefathers,  a  careful  remembrance  of  which,  with  entire  de- 
votion to  the  duties  of  the  Present,  will  constitute  a  nation 
admired  of  men  and  blessed  of  God. 

THE    POST    HEADQUARTERS    BUILDING. 

Although,  as  stated  in  Chapter  V,  no  date  can  be  assigned 
for  the  erection  of  the  building  now  used  as  Post  Head- 
quarters, it  seems  clear  to  the  author,  as  well  as  to  others, 
that  it  is  at  least  one  of  the  oldest  buildings  on  Governor's 
Island.     Reference  to  it  will  be  found  on  page  107. 

A  careful  examination  of  the  building  indicates  that  it  was 
built  for  a  dwelling-house  and  used  for  a  guard  house  or 
headquarter  building.  The  rose  panel  decorations  over  the 
doorways  and  windows  and  the  expensive  character  of  the 
base  mouldings  carry  out  this  theory. 

This  was  possibly  the  family  house  mentioned  in  the  British 
orders,  page  39,  but  it  was  undoubtedly  the  guard  house  and 
headquarters  of  the  period  of  1812.*  The  lower  part  was 
at  one  time  used  for  the  main  guard  house,  as  the  heavy  iron 
bars  of  the  ancient  four-sided  pattern  clearly  indicate,  as  well 
as  their  considerable  corrosion  at  the  lower  ends  due  to  the 
settling  of  moisture.  One  bar  has  been  replaced  by  a  modem 
round  bar,  revealing  a  probable  escape,  and  one  window  is 
now  entirely  without  bars,  but  the  square  sockets  are  plainly 
to  be  seen  in  the  upper  sill.  The  building  itself  is  cross  or  T 
shape  and  additions  of  frame  construction  have  been  added 
at  some  unknown  period.  In  one  of  these,  at  the  N.  W.  angle, 
may  be  seen  the  sill  of  an  exterior  door.     This  shows  signs 

*  Previous  to  1840,  when  the  present  Comd'g  Genl's  Quarters  were  built, 
the  Post  Crad'r  lived  with  his  family  in  this  building.  It  was  as  late  as 
that  period  called  "The  Governor's  House." 

174 


ADDENDA 

of  long  use  in  the  wearing  away  of  the  surface.  In  the  lower 
part  of  the  house  the  walls  have  been  ceiled  with  wood  and 
plaster  and  in  one  place  part  of  the  old  foundation  appears, 
disclosing  a  red  sandstone  similar  to  that  used  in  Castle 
Williams,  but  for  the  most  part  the  foundations,  like  the  walls 
throughout,  are  of  brick. 

The  lower  room  now  used  as  a  furnace  room  contains 
within  it  an  interior  apartment  with  remains  indicating  a  door 
in  the  thickness  of  the  wall.  This  is  lighted  by  a  very  small, 
deep-set  window  with  double  iron  bars  of  the  old  pattern.  It 
is  more  than  reasonable  to  believe  this  was  the  Black  Hole 
referred  to  on  page  63. 

In  addition  to  the  fine  rose  mouldings  on  the  first  floor,  a 
fire  place  and  mantel  of  elaborate  construction  and  the  original 
arrangement  of  doors,  both  exterior  and  interior,  lead  to  the 
theory  held  by  some  that  although  undoubtedly  the  guard 
house  of  1812,  it  was  perhaps  used  as  a  dwelling  house  at  an 
earlier  period  as  its  common  name  of  "Governor's  House"  in 
1830  would  seem  to  imply.  An  interior  stair  case  was  re- 
moved a  few  years  ago  and  an  outside  stairway  was  erected, 
connecting  the  Sergeant-Major's  oflFice  below  with  the  Com- 
manding Officer's  above.  The  author  inclines  to  a  belief  that 
it  is  at  least  of  the  post-Revolutionary  early  American  reoccu- 
pation  (1783),  built  for  the  Commanding  Officer  of  the  Gar- 
rison. 


Letter  from  General  Grant  regarding  the  New  Chapel. 

"Governor's  Island,  New  York, 

October  7th,  1908. 
To  the  Rector,  Churchwardens  and  Vestrymen  of 

Trinity  Church. 
My  dear  Sirs: — 

As  Commanding  General  of  the  Department  of  the 
East,  residing  here  on  Governor's  Island,  I  beg  to  express 
on  my  own  behalf  and  for  the  officers  of  the  United 
States  Army  in  general,  and  more  especially  for  those 
stationed  here,  with  their  families,  as  well  as  on  behalf  of 
the  enlisted  men  and  all  others  residing  here  within  my 

175 


ADDENDA 

command,  the  very  deep  appreciation  felt  by  myself,  and 
by  those  mentioned,  of  the  work  so  generously  and  liber- 
ally carried  out  by  Trinity  Church  here,  for  years  past. 
It  appears  from  the  records  that  the  first  Chapel  building 
in  1846-7  was  due  largely  to  the  contributions  of  Trinity 
Church  Corporation,  and  for  many  years  after  the  date 
mentioned,  annual  appropriations  were  made  by  the 
Church  regularly,  for  its  support  and  to  assist  the  Chap- 
lain here  in  his  work  on  Governor's  Island.  From  1868 
to  the  present  time,  by  authority  of  the  Secretary  of  War, 
Trinity  Church  has  maintained  the  Chaplain,  and  in  1906, 
completed  the  beautiful  stone  chapel,  which  was  dedi- 
cated that  year,  October  19th,  with  ceremonies  of  a  Mili- 
tary and  Ecclesiastical  character. 

St.  Cornelius  Chapel  is  the  most  beautiful  and  in- 
spiring place  of  worship  of  the  United  States  Army,  now 
in  existence,  and  decorated  with  its  historic  flags  and 
cannons  is  deeply  appreciated  by  all  who  enter  within  its 
sacred  walls,  and  has  been  the  cause  of  several  requests 
from  other  Military  Garrisons  that  similar  Chapels  might 
be  built  in  those  Garrisons  as  inspirations  for  Christian 
work,  and  benefit.  I,  myself,  gratefully  realize  the  happy 
relations  existing  between  the  Church  and  the  Army 
brought  about  by  the  munificent  donation  of  Trinity 
Church  in  placing  this  Chapel  on  Governor's  Island.  The 
Reverend  Morgan  Dix,  late  Rector  of  Trinity  Church, 
was  in  his  lovable,  noble  example  and  his  Christian  char- 
acter, a  wonderful  aid  and  inspiration  in  establishing  the 
happy  relations  between  the  Church  and  the  Army,  and 
he  exerted  a  most  elevating  influence  over  those  coming 
within  the  sphere  of  his  labors  and  gentle  sympathy. 

I  deeply  appreciate  the  opportunity  I  have  had,  as  De- 
partment Commander  here,  to  witness  the  work  so  nobly 
accomplished  by  Trinity  Church  for  the  good  of  the 
United  States  Army,  and  I  beg  to  express  my  own  grate- 
ful thanks,  to  you,  the  Rector,  Churchwardens  and  Vestry- 
men of  Trinity  Church,  for  your  Christian  help  extend- 
ing in  results  from  Governor's  Island  throughout  the  De- 
partment of  the  East  and  to  the  Army  of  the  United 
States. 

Believe  me,  Sirs, 

Your    faithful    servant, 
Frederick  D.  Grant, 

Major  General,  U.  S.  A." 

176 


EPILOGUE 

History  is  more  than  a  mere  statement  of  facts.  It  is,  or 
should  be,  all  of  this  for  accuracy,  for  truth,  but  many  are 
satisfied  with  statement  as  the  end,  whereas  it  should  be  but 
the  beginning. 

Herein  lies  the  explanation  of  the  frequent  failure  of  the 
nation  or  the  individual  to  learn  by  experience,  which  is  an- 
other name  for  applied  History,  in  that  many  mistake  experi- 
ences for  experience  and  fail  to  recognize  in  the  rapid  onward 
march  of  individual  events  the  slower,  grander  movement  of 
History,  which  is  the  sum  total  of  the  fleeting  figures  which 
compose  it.  These  figures  come  and  go ;  they  are  added  up  by 
the  infallible  hand  of  time  and  are  erased  to  make  room  for 
others.  All  that  shall  finally  remain  is  Result.  We  may  not  on 
that  account  despise  the  fact  nor  the  figure  because  it  is  small, 
but  rather  pay  our  respect  because  it,  so  small,  is  a  controlling 
factor  in  the  great  Result,  in  some  way  contributing  to  that 
"one  far-off  divine  event  to  which  the  whole  creation  moves." 

Emerson  tells  us  that  History  is  the  "record  of  the  works 
of  the  one  mind  common  to  all  individual  men ;  that  a  man  is 
the  whole  encyclopaedia  of  facts:  that  the  creation  of  a  thou- 
sand forests  is  in  one  acorn,  and  that  Egypt,  Greece,  Rome, 
Gaul,  Britain,  America  lie  folded  already  in  the  first  man." 

These  profound  words  may  be  applied  to  the  subject  of  this 
history.  If  the  fate  of  a  nation  lies  folded  in  one  man,  it  is 
certainly  true  that  three  hundred  years  of  the  activity  of  many 
men  concentrated  in  one  spot  must  have  an  enormous  influence 
upon  the  community  in  which  that  spot  is  enshrined.  And 
Governor's  Island,  the  "Jewel  of  New  York,"  as  the  author's 
friend  Baron  Nicholas  de  Lodygensky  calls  it,  lying  a  pendant 
of  her  larger  sister  of  Manhattan,  both  by  geographical  posi- 
tion and  in  history  carries  out  the  idea  of  concentration  and 
importance  as  well  as  of  beauty. 

Governor's  Island  is  a  name  to  conjure  by  in  our  City  and 
State  and  Nation,  both  military  and  civilian,  for  the  reason 

177 


EPILOGUE 

that  it  has  without  exception  in  all  its  history  represented  im- 
portant circumstance  and  high  ideal.  Purchased  honourably 
by  treaty  from  its  aboriginal  owners,  it  passed  at  once  into  the 
official  life  of  the  Dutch  Colonial  Government.  Consequent 
upon  the  final  English  conquest  of  1674  it  increased  in  im- 
portance as  in  value.  The  "Smiling  Garden  of  the  Sovereigns 
of  the  Province"  in  the  piping  times  of  peace,  it  took  on  the 
frown  of  war  when  danger  beset  its  borders.  Governors, 
Statesmen,  the  Military,  all  agreed  in  its  value  for  defence. 
Washington  issued  orders  for  the  breastworks  of  'y6  and  Put- 
nam made  haste  at  candle-lighting.  The  literates  of  Columbia 
College  toiled  in  the  post-Revolutionary  trenches,  and  from 
that  day  to  this  it  has  been  a  citadel  of  defence;  artillery , and 
infantry  in  turn  have  garrisoned  its  forts  and  mounted  the 
guard  upon  its  grassy  slopes.  Of  later  years  it  has  become  in 
addition  the  Headquarters  of  Administration,  and  thus  in  its 
whole  career  it  has  exemplified  the  two  cardinal  principles 
of  continuity  and  progress.  In  our  haste  for  results  rather 
than  for  the  Result  we  forget  that  progress  can  be  best  secured 
by  conservative  continuity.  This  would  seem  to  be  the  lesson 
Governor's  Island  teaches. 

It  is  a  silent  lesson  and  it  is  to  be  read  in  the  mirror  of 
experience  into  which  he  gazes  who  studies  History,  or  even 
so  small  a  part  of  it  as  this  brief  book  contains. 

Continuity  of  official  life  in  one  spot  for  three  hundred  years 
means  much  in  the  history  of  any  land.  When  it  is  recalled 
that  official  status  on  this  Island  has  prevailed  under  the  flags 
of  three  distinct  Powers,  each  one  at  war  with  the  one  follow- 
ing or  preceding,  and  one  with  both,  it  will  be  granted  that  the 
subject  of  this  history  has  inherited  sufficient  conservatism  to 
explain  some  things  that  harass  the  would-be  progressive  to- 
day. Our  Island  in  its  story  recalls  to  the  thoughtful  mind 
visions  of  the  shadowv  red  man  lurking  in  its  virgin  forest, 
traditions  of  the  sturdy  Dutch  with  their  windmill  and  planta- 
tion, of  the  elegant  English  Colonial  of  the  Charles  and  the 
Georges,  and  coming  finally  to  our  own  more  recent  history 
and  to  the  present  day,  we  confess  to  conscious  pride  when 

178 


EPILOGUE 

we  view  our  splendid  soldiery,  which  in  its  personnel  of  officers 
and  men  unconsciously  inherits  and  exemplifies  the  virtues  of 
those  who  under  other  flags  but  with  much  the  same  ideals 
have  trod  this  land  before  us. 

The  three  Flags  of  Holland,  England  and  America  have 
known  the  winds  of  our  Island  since  1637.  This  spot  has 
had  its  part  in  the  forging  of  the  nation,  the  welding  together 
of  materials  differing  in  their  character  but  not  in  their  sub- 
stance. The  work  is  going  on  here  today  of  perfecting  the 
work  so  well  begun  but  never  to  be  so  completed  that  labour 
may  cease. 

This  is  continuity,  and  because  it  is  on  right  lines,  actuated 
by  high  motives,  it  will  receive  the  reward  that  a  distinct  law 
of  nature  prescribes. 

The  purpose  of  the  author  in  writing  this  history  has  been 
attained  if  he  has  correctly  stated  facts  as  they  occurred  and 
if  he  has  so  entwined  the  Three  Flags  which  have  floated  here 
that  while  each  preserves  its  identity,  it  still  lends  colour  to 
the  rest  and  deepens  the  strength  of  that  Flag  we  must  love 
best  because  it  is  ours. 

In  the  great  destiny  of  Nations  we  know  not  yet  what  part 
we  shall  play.  Continuity  on  the  lines  of  that  wisdom  which 
belongs  to  the  ages  and  progress  in  every  application  to  the 
changing  conditions  of  the  century  or  of  the  hour  are  elements 
of  lasting  power  and  prepare  a  people  for  that  struggle  which 
is  sure  to  come  soon  to  the  weak  and  some  time  to  the  strong. 

It  is  not  too  much  to  say  that  Governor's  Island  has  played 
well  and  consistently  its  part  for  God  and  Country  in  the 
past,  and  not  too  much  to  hope  it  will  ever  do  so  in  the  un- 
known years  that  are  to  come. 


. ■a-:uor- •!».•    ,  ■■  •    . 


^?^*^^^^?^^^^f^^^^ 


ENLARGEMENT 

GOVERNORS  ISLAND 

NEW  YORK 

CoMPLE.TeD  Enlargement 
OUTLINE8  AND  Elevations 

OCTOBCR.191? 


t  AtttA  &UAVL' 


T  tNaiNtCft».U&A. 


Engineers'  Plan — Governor's  Island — 1912, 


